Efficient representation of fully many-body localized systems using tensor networks

We propose a tensor network encoding the set of all eigenstates of a fully many-body localized system in one dimension. Our construction, conceptually based on the ansatz introduced in Phys. Rev. B 94, 041116(R) (2016), is built from two layers of unitary matrices which act on blocks of $\ell$ contiguous sites. We argue this yields an exponential reduction in computational time and memory requirement as compared to all previous approaches for finding a representation of the complete eigenspectrum of large many-body localized systems with a given accuracy. Concretely, we optimize the unitaries by minimizing the magnitude of the commutator of the approximate integrals of motion and the Hamiltonian, which can be done in a local fashion. This further reduces the computational complexity of the tensor networks arising in the minimization process compared to previous work. We test the accuracy of our method by comparing the approximate energy spectrum to exact diagonalization results for the random field Heisenberg model on 16 sites. We find that the technique is highly accurate deep in the localized regime and maintains a surprising degree of accuracy in predicting certain local quantities even in the vicinity of the predicted dynamical phase transition. To demonstrate the power of our technique, we study a system of 72 sites and we are able to see clear signatures of the phase transition. Our work opens a new avenue to study properties of the many-body localization transition in large systems.Comment: Version 2, 16 pages, 16 figures. Larger systems and greater efficienc

Designing colloidal ground state patterns using short-range isotropic interactions

DNA-coated colloids are a popular model system for self-assembly through tunable interactions. The DNA-encoded linkages between particles theoretically allow for very high specificity, but generally no directionality or long-range interactions. We introduce a two-dimensional lattice model for particles of many different types with short-range isotropic interactions that are pairwise specific. For this class of models, we address the fundamental question whether it is possible to reliably design the interactions so that the ground state is unique and corresponds to a given crystal structure. First, we determine lower limits for the interaction range between particles, depending on the complexity of the desired pattern and the underlying lattice. Then, we introduce a `recipe' for determining the pairwise interactions that exactly satisfies this minimum criterion, and we show that it is sufficient to uniquely determine the ground state for a large class of crystal structures. Finally, we verify these results using Monte Carlo simulations.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figure

Pauli-Fierz model with Kato-class potentials and exponential decays

Generalized Pauli-Fierz Hamiltonian with Kato-class potential \KPF in nonrelativistic quantum electrodynamics is defined and studied by a path measure. \KPF is defined as the self-adjoint generator of a strongly continuous one-parameter symmetric semigroup and it is shown that its bound states spatially exponentially decay pointwise and the ground state is unique.Comment: We deleted Lemma 3.1 in vol.

S3 Quantum Hall Wavefunctions

We construct a family of quantum Hall Hamiltonians whose ground states, at least for small system sizes, give correlators of the S3 conformal field theories. The ground states are considered as trial wavefunctions for quantum Hall effect of bosons at filling fraction nu=3/4 interacting either via delta function interaction or delta function plus dipole interaction. While the S3 theories can be either unitary or nonunitary, we find high overlaps with exact diagonalizations only for the nonunitary case, suggesting that these wavefunctions may correspond to critical points, possibly analogous to the previously studied Gaffnian wavefunction. These wavefunctions give an explicit example which cannot be fully characterized by their thin-torus limit or by their pattern of zeros.Comment: 4+epsilon pages. 1 figure. Revised version includes: 1 additional author; additional numerical work; several minor corrections. Our main results are unchange

Singular Continuous Spectrum for the Laplacian on Certain Sparse Trees

We present examples of rooted tree graphs for which the Laplacian has singular continuous spectral measures. For some of these examples we further establish fractional Hausdorff dimensions. The singular continuous components, in these models, have an interesting multiplicity structure. The results are obtained via a decomposition of the Laplacian into a direct sum of Jacobi matrices

Witten index, axial anomaly, and Krein's spectral shift function in supersymmetric quantum mechanics

A new method is presented to study supersymmetric quantum mechanics. Using relative scattering techniques, basic relations are derived between Krein’s spectral shift function, the Witten index, and the anomaly. The topological invariance of the spectral shift function is discussed. The power of this method is illustrated by treating various models and calculating explicitly the spectral shift function, the Witten index, and the anomaly. In particular, a complete treatment of the two‐dimensional magnetic field problem is given, without assuming that the magnetic flux is quantized

Bulk-edge coupling in the non-abelian ν=5/2\nu=5/2 quantum Hall interferometer

Recent schemes for experimentally probing non-abelian statistics in the quantum Hall effect are based on geometries where current-carrying quasiparticles flow along edges that encircle bulk quasiparticles, which are localized. Here we consider one such scheme, the Fabry-Perot interferometer, and analyze how its interference patterns are affected by a coupling that allows tunneling of neutral Majorana fermions between the bulk and edge. While at weak coupling this tunneling degrades the interference signal, we find that at strong coupling, the bulk quasiparticle becomes essentially absorbed by the edge and the intereference signal is fully restored.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur

Microtubule length distributions in the presence of protein-induced severing

Microtubules are highly regulated dynamic elements of the cytoskeleton of eukaryotic cells. One of the regulation mechanisms observed in living cells is the severing by the proteins katanin and spastin. We introduce a model for the dynamics of microtubules in the presence of randomly occurring severing events. Under the biologically motivated assumption that the newly created plus end undergoes a catastrophe, we investigate the steady state length distribution. We show that the presence of severing does not affect the number of microtubules, regardless of the distribution of severing events. In the special case in which the microtubules cannot recover from the depolymerizing state (no rescue events) we derive an analytical expression for the length distribution. In the general case we transform the problem into a single ODE that is solved numerically.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

Singular components of spectral measures for ergodic Jacobi matrices

For ergodic 1d Jacobi operators we prove that the random singular components of any spectral measure are almost surely mutually disjoint as long as one restricts to the set of positive Lyapunov exponent. In the context of extended Harper's equation this yields the first rigorous proof of the Thouless' formula for the Lyapunov exponent in the dual regions.Comment: to appear in the Journal of Mathematical Physics, vol 52 (2011