A Q-operator for the quantum transfer matrix

Baxter's Q-operator for the quantum transfer matrix of the XXZ spin-chain is constructed employing the representation theory of quantum groups. The spectrum of this Q-operator is discussed and novel functional relations which describe the finite temperature regime of the XXZ spin-chain are derived. For non-vanishing magnetic field the previously known Bethe ansatz equations can be replaced by a system of quadratic equations which is an important advantage for numerical studies. For vanishing magnetic field and rational coupling values it is argued that the quantum transfer matrix exhibits a loop algebra symmetry closely related to the one of the classical six-vertex transfer matrix at roots of unity.Comment: 20 pages, v2: some minor style improvement

The twisted XXZ chain at roots of unity revisited

The symmetries of the twisted XXZ spin-chain (alias the twisted six-vertex model) at roots of unity are investigated. It is shown that when the twist parameter is chosen to depend on the total spin an infinite-dimensional non-abelian symmetry algebra can be explicitly constructed for all spin sectors. This symmetry algebra is identified to be the upper or lower Borel subalgebra of the sl_2 loop algebra. The proof uses only the intertwining property of the six-vertex monodromy matrix and the familiar relations of the six-vertex Yang-Baxter algebra.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures. One footnote and some comments in the conclusions adde

Turning the Quantum Group Invariant XXZ Spin-Chain Hermitian: A Conjecture on the Invariant Product

This is a continuation of a previous joint work with Robert Weston on the quantum group invariant XXZ spin-chain (math-ph/0703085). The previous results on quasi-Hermiticity of this integrable model are briefly reviewed and then connected with a new construction of an inner product with respect to which the Hamiltonian and the representation of the Temperley-Lieb algebra become Hermitian. The approach is purely algebraic, one starts with the definition of a positive functional over the Temperley-Lieb algebra whose values can be computed graphically. Employing the Gel'fand-Naimark-Segal (GNS) construction for C*-algebras a self-adjoint representation of the Temperley-Lieb algebra is constructed when the deformation parameter q lies in a special section of the unit circle. The main conjecture of the paper is the unitary equivalence of this GNS representation with the representation obtained in the previous paper employing the ideas of PT-symmetry and quasi-Hermiticity. An explicit example is presented.Comment: 12 page

Auxiliary matrices on both sides of the equator

The spectra of previously constructed auxiliary matrices for the six-vertex model at roots of unity are investigated for spin-chains of even and odd length. The two cases show remarkable differences. In particular, it is shown that for even roots of unity and an odd number of sites the eigenvalues contain two linear independent solutions to Baxter's TQ-equation corresponding to the Bethe ansatz equations above and below the equator. In contrast, one finds for even spin-chains only one linear independent solution and complete strings. The other main result is the proof of a previous conjecture on the degeneracies of the six-vertex model at roots of unity. The proof rests on the derivation of a functional equation for the auxiliary matrices which is closely related to a functional equation for the eight-vertex model conjectured by Fabricius and McCoy.Comment: 22 pages; 2nd version: one paragraph added in the conclusion and some typos correcte

XXZ Bethe states as highest weight vectors of the sl2sl_2 loop algebra at roots of unity

We show that every regular Bethe ansatz eigenvector of the XXZ spin chain at roots of unity is a highest weight vector of the $sl_2$ loop algebra, for some restricted sectors with respect to eigenvalues of the total spin operator $S^Z$, and evaluate explicitly the highest weight in terms of the Bethe roots. We also discuss whether a given regular Bethe state in the sectors generates an irreducible representation or not. In fact, we present such a regular Bethe state in the inhomogeneous case that generates a reducible Weyl module. Here, we call a solution of the Bethe ansatz equations which is given by a set of distinct and finite rapidities {\it regular Bethe roots}. We call a nonzero Bethe ansatz eigenvector with regular Bethe roots a {\it regular Bethe state}.Comment: 40pages; revised versio

A Q-operator for the twisted XXX model

Taking the isotropic limit in a recent representation theoretic construction of Baxter's Q-operators for the XXZ model with quasi-periodic boundary conditions we obtain new results for the XXX model. We show that quasi-periodic boundary conditions are needed to ensure convergence of the Q-operator construction and derive a quantum Wronskian relation which implies two different sets of Bethe ansatz equations, one above the other below the "equator" of total spin zero. We discuss the limit to periodic boundary conditions at the end and explain how this construction might be useful in the context of correlation functions on the infinite lattice. We also identify a special subclass of solutions to the quantum Wronskian for chains up to a length of 10 sites and possibly higher.Comment: 19 page

PT Symmetry of the non-Hermitian XX Spin-Chain: Non-local Bulk Interaction from Complex Boundary Fields

The XX spin-chain with non-Hermitian diagonal boundary conditions is shown to be quasi-Hermitian for special values of the boundary parameters. This is proved by explicit construction of a new inner product employing a "quasi-fermion" algebra in momentum space where creation and annihilation operators are not related via Hermitian conjugation. For a special example, when the boundary fields lie on the imaginary axis, we show the spectral equivalence of the quasi-Hermitian XX spin-chain with a non-local fermion model, where long range hopping of the particles occurs as the non-Hermitian boundary fields increase in strength. The corresponding Hamiltonian interpolates between the open XX and the quantum group invariant XXZ model at the free fermion point. For an even number of sites the former is known to be related to a CFT with central charge c=1, while the latter has been connected to a logarithmic CFT with central charge c=-2. We discuss the underlying algebraic structures and show that for an odd number of sites the superalgebra symmetry U(gl(1|1)) can be extended from the unit circle along the imaginary axis. We relate the vanishing of one of its central elements to the appearance of Jordan blocks in the Hamiltonian.Comment: 37 pages, 5 figure

Auxiliary matrices for the six-vertex model and the algebraic Bethe ansatz

We connect two alternative concepts of solving integrable models, Baxter's method of auxiliary matrices (or Q-operators) and the algebraic Bethe ansatz. The main steps of the calculation are performed in a general setting and a formula for the Bethe eigenvalues of the Q-operator is derived. A proof is given for states which contain up to three Bethe roots. Further evidence is provided by relating the findings to the six-vertex fusion hierarchy. For the XXZ spin-chain we analyze the cases when the deformation parameter of the underlying quantum group is evaluated both at and away from a root of unity.Comment: 32 page

Noncommutative Schur polynomials and the crystal limit of the U_q sl(2)-vertex model

Starting from the Verma module of U_q sl(2) we consider the evaluation module for affine U_q sl(2) and discuss its crystal limit (q=0). There exists an associated integrable statistical mechanics model on a square lattice defined in terms of vertex configurations. Its transfer matrix is the generating function for noncommutative complete symmetric polynomials in the generators of the affine plactic algebra, an extension of the finite plactic algebra first discussed by Lascoux and Sch\"{u}tzenberger. The corresponding noncommutative elementary symmetric polynomials were recently shown to be generated by the transfer matrix of the so-called phase model discussed by Bogoliubov, Izergin and Kitanine. Here we establish that both generating functions satisfy Baxter's TQ-equation in the crystal limit by tying them to special U_q sl(2) solutions of the Yang-Baxter equation. The TQ-equation amounts to the well-known Jacobi-Trudy formula leading naturally to the definition of noncommutative Schur polynomials. The latter can be employed to define a ring which has applications in conformal field theory and enumerative geometry: it is isomorphic to the fusion ring of the sl(n)_k -WZNW model whose structure constants are the dimensions of spaces of generalized theta-functions over the Riemann sphere with three punctures.Comment: 24 pages, 6 figures; v2: several typos fixe

Auxiliary matrices for the six-vertex model at roots of 1 and a geometric interpretation of its symmetries

The construction of auxiliary matrices for the six-vertex model at a root of unity is investigated from a quantum group theoretic point of view. Employing the concept of intertwiners associated with the quantum loop algebra $U_q(\tilde{sl}_2)$ at $q^N=1$ a three parameter family of auxiliary matrices is constructed. The elements of this family satisfy a functional relation with the transfer matrix allowing one to solve the eigenvalue problem of the model and to derive the Bethe ansatz equations. This functional relation is obtained from the decomposition of a tensor product of evaluation representations and involves auxiliary matrices with different parameters. Because of this dependence on additional parameters the auxiliary matrices break in general the finite symmetries of the six-vertex model, such as spin-reversal or spin conservation. More importantly, they also lift the extra degeneracies of the transfer matrix due to the loop symmetry present at rational coupling values. The extra parameters in the auxiliary matrices are shown to be directly related to the elements in the enlarged center of the quantum loop algebra $U_q(\tilde{sl}_2)$ at $q^N=1$. This connection provides a geometric interpretation of the enhanced symmetry of the six-vertex model at rational coupling. The parameters labelling the auxiliary matrices can be interpreted as coordinates on a three-dimensional complex hypersurface which remains invariant under the action of an infinite-dimensional group of analytic transformations, called the quantum coadjoint action.Comment: 52 pages, TCI LaTex, v2: equation (167) corrected, two references adde