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arXiv · 1012.2050

Markov entropy decomposition: a variational dual for quantum belief propagation

David Poulin·Matthew B. Hastings
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Abstract

We present a lower bound for the free energy of a quantum many-body system at finite temperature. This lower bound is expressed as a convex optimization problem with linear constraints, and is derived using strong subadditivity of von Neumann entropy and a relaxation of the consistency condition of local density operators. The dual to this minimization problem leads to a set of quantum belief propagation equations, thus providing a firm theoretical foundation to that approach. The minimization problem is numerically tractable, and we find good agreement with quantum Monte Carlo for the spin-half Heisenberg anti-ferromagnet in two dimensions. This lower bound complements other variational upper bounds. We discuss applications to Hamiltonian complexity theory and give a generalization of the structure theorem of Hayden, Jozsa, Petz and Winter to trees in an appendix.

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David Poulin, Matthew B. Hastings. 2010-12-09. Markov entropy decomposition: a variational dual for quantum belief propagation. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.106.080403

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