TY - JOUR
T1 - Global symmetries in tensor network states
T2 - Symmetric tensors versus minimal bond dimension
AU - Singh, Sukhwinder
AU - Vidal, Guifre
PY - 2013/9/30
Y1 - 2013/9/30
N2 - Tensor networks offer a variational formalism to efficiently represent wave functions of extended quantum many-body systems on a lattice. In a tensor network N, the dimension χ of the bond indices that connect its tensors controls the number of variational parameters and associated computational costs. In the absence of any symmetry, the minimal bond dimension χmin required to represent a given many-body wave function |Ψ leads to the most compact, computationally efficient tensor network description of |Ψa. In the presence of a global, on-site symmetry, one can use a tensor network N sym made of symmetric tensors. Symmetric tensors allow one to exactly preserve the symmetry and to target specific quantum numbers, while their sparse structure leads to a compact description and lowers computational costs. In this paper we explore the trade-off between using a tensor network N with minimal bond dimension χmin and a tensor network Nsym made of symmetric tensors, where the minimal bond dimension χsymmin might be larger than χmin. We present two technical results. First, we show that in a tree tensor network, which is the most general tensor network without loops, the minimal bond dimension can always be achieved with symmetric tensors, so that χsymmin=χmin. Second, we provide explicit examples of tensor networks with loops where replacing tensors with symmetric ones necessarily increases the bond dimension, so that χsymmin>χmin. We further argue, however, that in some situations there are important conceptual reasons to prefer a tensor network representation with symmetric tensors (and possibly larger bond dimension) over one with minimal bond dimension.
AB - Tensor networks offer a variational formalism to efficiently represent wave functions of extended quantum many-body systems on a lattice. In a tensor network N, the dimension χ of the bond indices that connect its tensors controls the number of variational parameters and associated computational costs. In the absence of any symmetry, the minimal bond dimension χmin required to represent a given many-body wave function |Ψ leads to the most compact, computationally efficient tensor network description of |Ψa. In the presence of a global, on-site symmetry, one can use a tensor network N sym made of symmetric tensors. Symmetric tensors allow one to exactly preserve the symmetry and to target specific quantum numbers, while their sparse structure leads to a compact description and lowers computational costs. In this paper we explore the trade-off between using a tensor network N with minimal bond dimension χmin and a tensor network Nsym made of symmetric tensors, where the minimal bond dimension χsymmin might be larger than χmin. We present two technical results. First, we show that in a tree tensor network, which is the most general tensor network without loops, the minimal bond dimension can always be achieved with symmetric tensors, so that χsymmin=χmin. Second, we provide explicit examples of tensor networks with loops where replacing tensors with symmetric ones necessarily increases the bond dimension, so that χsymmin>χmin. We further argue, however, that in some situations there are important conceptual reasons to prefer a tensor network representation with symmetric tensors (and possibly larger bond dimension) over one with minimal bond dimension.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84885234688&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevB.88.115147
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevB.88.115147
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84885234688
SN - 1098-0121
VL - 88
SP - 115147-1-115147-11
JO - Physical Review B: Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
JF - Physical Review B: Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
IS - 11
M1 - 115147
ER -