Tensor-Network Simulation of Quantum Spin Systems with Bond-Dependent Interactions

Abstract

The efficient simulation of a quantum many-body system is often incredibly difficult due to the exponential scaling of the Hilbert space with increasing number of interacting particles. In practice, it is only possible to exactly simulate small clusters. In many cases, tensor-network-based methods are capable of overcoming this challenge, providing reliable simulations of much larger or even infinite-sized systems through a low-rank factorization of the state coefficients. Tensor operations are typically highly parallelizable, and therefore capable of utilizing the high performance of modern general-purpose graphics processing units (GPU). A particular tensor-network ansatz called infinite projected-entangled pair states (iPEPS) may be used to simulate infinite two-dimensional lattice systems, and are the primary subject of this thesis. As part of this work, a GPU-based open-source software library called Ace-TN was developed to accelerate iPEPS calculations. Benchmarks are presented showing efficient single- and muli-gpu execution of the core iPEPS simulation techniques. iPEPS simulations are performed for quantum spin systems with bond directional interactions, referred to as quantum compass models (QCM) or Kitaev models depending on pre-established naming conventions. The QCM defined on square and kagome lattices are considered with the addition of an external magnetic field. Each system possesses one-dimensional gauge-like symmetries in zero field, relating subextensively-many ground states that are capable of being represented by iPEPS. These states are shown to be metastable in non-zero field through adiabatic evolution from the zero-field ground state, each separated by a small energy gap. Several field-dependent phases and phase transitions are found in each system. Prominent nematic phases are found in both the square- and kagome-lattice systems. The square-lattice system contains a field value that admits an exact solution of the ground state which is characteristic of the surrounding phase. The inclusion of isotropic Heisenberg coupling to the kagome-lattice system is also explored, which produces a frustrated parameter regime between two dual quantum spin-liquid phases.