Exact, complete, and universal continuous-time worldline Monte Carlo approach to the statistics of discrete quantum systems

We show how the worldline quantum Monte Carlo procedure, which usually relies on an artificial time discretization, can be formulated directly in continuous time, rendering the scheme exact. For an arbitrary system with discrete Hilbert space, none of the configuration update procedures contain small parameters. We find that the most effective update strategy involves the motion of worldline discontinuities (both in space and time), i.e., the evaluation of the Green’s function. Being based on local updates only, our method nevertheless allows one to work with the grand canonical ensemble and nonzero winding numbers, and to calculate any dynamical correlation function as easily as expectation values of, e.g., total energy. The principles found for the update in continuous time generalize to any continuous variables in the space of discrete virtual transitions, and in principle also make it possible to simulate continuous systems exactly. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 114, 570–590 (August 1998) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Reproduced here with stylistic changes by the Translation Editor.     

Exact Monte Carlo for few-fermion systems

We have reconsidered the fundamental difficulties of fermion Monte Carlo as applied to few-body systems. We conclude that necessary ingredients of successful algorithms include the following: There must be equal populations of random walkers that carry positive and negative weights. The positions of positive walkers should be selected from a distribution that uses Green's functions to couple all walkers. The positions of negative walkers should be generated from those of positive walkers by means of odd permutations. The correct importance functions that take into account the global interactions of the populations are different for positive and negative walkers. Use of such importance functions breaks the symmetry that otherwise would exist between configurations (of the entire population) and configurations derived by interchanging positive and negative walkers. Based upon these observations, we have constructed a stable and accurate algorithm that solves a fully-polarized, three-dimensional, three-body model problem.     

Monte Carlo simulations for two-dimensional quantum systems

The Trotter-Suzuki transformation has been used to obtain the classical representation ford-dimensional lattice systems with boson and fermion degrees of freedom. A Monte Carlo algorithm for the equivalent (d+1)-dimensional classical system is presented. Numerical results are shown for the Heisenberg-spin-glass, the XY model and the spinless fermion lattice gas in two dimensions.     

A quantum Monte Carlo method for nucleon systems

We describe a quantum Monte Carlo method for Hamiltonians which include tensor and other spin interactions such as those that are commonly encountered in nuclear structure calculations. The main ingredients are a Hubbard-Stratonovich transformation to uncouple the spin degrees of freedom along with a fixed node approximation to maintain stability. We apply the method to neutron matter interacting with a central, spin-exchange, and tensor forces. The addition of isospin degrees of freedom is straightforward.     

Dielectric response of periodic systems from quantum Monte Carlo calculations

We present a novel approach that allows us to calculate the dielectric response of periodic systems in the quantum Monte Carlo formalism. We employ a many-body generalization for the electric-enthalpy functional, where the coupling with the field is expressed via the Berry-phase formulation for the macroscopic polarization. A self-consistent local Hamiltonian then determines the ground-state wave function, allowing for accurate diffusion quantum Monte Carlo calculations where the polarization's fixed point is estimated from the average on an iterative sequence, sampled via forward walking. This approach has been validated for the case of an isolated hydrogen atom and then applied to a periodic system, to calculate the dielectric susceptibility of molecular-hydrogen chains. The results found are in excellent agreement with the best estimates obtained from the extrapolation of quantum-chemistry calculations.     

Monte Carlo evaluation of non-Abelian statistics

We develop a general framework to (numerically) study adiabatic braiding of quasiholes in fractional quantum Hall systems. Specifically, we investigate the Moore-Read (MR) state at nu=1/2 filling factor, a known candidate for non-Abelian statistics, which appears to actually occur in nature. The non-Abelian statistics of MR quasiholes is demonstrated explicitly for the first time, confirming the results predicted by conformal field theories.     

Monte Carlo techniques for real-time quantum dynamics

The stochastic-gauge representation is a method of mapping the equation of motion for the quantum mechanical density operator onto a set of equivalent stochastic differential equations. One of the stochastic variables is termed the “weight”, and its magnitude is related to the importance of the stochastic trajectory. We investigate the use of Monte Carlo algorithms to improve the sampling of the weighted trajectories and thus reduce sampling error in a simulation of quantum dynamics. The method can be applied to calculations in real time, as well as imaginary time for which Monte Carlo algorithms are more-commonly used. The Monte-Carlo algorithms are applicable when the weight is guaranteed to be real, and we demonstrate how to ensure this is the case. Examples are given for the anharmonic oscillator, where large improvements over stochastic sampling are observed.     

A note on the Monte Carlo simulation of one dimensional quantum spin systems

The one dimensional Ising model in a transverse field is treated by Monte Carlo methods in order to study the approach originally proposed by Suzuki, Miyashita and Kuroda.     

Exact infinite-time statistics of the Loschmidt echo for a quantum quench

The equilibration dynamics of a closed quantum system is encoded in the long-time distribution function of generic observables. In this Letter we consider the Loschmidt echo generalized to finite temperature, and show that we can obtain an exact expression for its long-time distribution for a closed system described by a quantum XY chain following a sudden quench. In the thermodynamic limit the logarithm of the Loschmidt echo becomes normally distributed, whereas for small quenches in the opposite, quasicritical regime, the distribution function acquires a universal double-peaked form indicating poor equilibration. These findings, obtained by a central limit theorem-type result, extend to completely general models in the small-quench regime.     

Monte Carlo method for evaluating the quantum real time propagator

A new exact representation of the quantum propagator is derived in terms of semiclassical initial value representations. The resulting expression may be expanded in a series, of which the leading order term is the semiclassical one. Motion of a Gaussian wave packet on a symmetric double well potential is used to demonstrate numerical convergence of the series and the ability to compute each element in the series using Monte Carlo methods.