Matrix product representation of gauge invariant states in a Z_2 lattice gauge theory

The Gauss law needs to be imposed on quantum states to guarantee gauge invariance when one studies gauge theory in hamiltonian formalism. In this work, we propose an efficient variational method based on the matrix product ansatz for a Z_2 lattice gauge theory on a spatial ladder chain. Gauge invariant low-lying states are identified by evaluating expectation values of the Gauss law operator after numerical diagonalization of the gauge hamiltonian.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures, minor corrections, accepted for publication in JHE