A Remark on the Notion of Independence of Quantum Integrals of Motion in the Thermodynamic Limit

Studies of integrable quantum many-body systems have a long history with an impressive record of success. However, surprisingly enough, an unambiguous definition of quantum integrability remains a matter of an ongoing debate. We contribute to this debate by dwelling upon an important aspect of quantum integrability—the notion of independence of quantum integrals of motion (QIMs). We point out that a widely accepted definition of functional independence of QIMs is flawed, and suggest a new definition. Our study is motivated by the PXP model—a model of N spins 1/2 possessing an extensive number of binary QIMs. The number of QIMs which are independent according to the common definition turns out to be equal to the number of spins, N. A common wisdom would then suggest that the system is completely integrable, which is not the case. We discuss the origin of this conundrum and demonstrate how it is resolved when a new definition of independence of QIMs is employed.