arXiv · 2309.05188
Optimal Convergence Rate of Lie-Trotter Approximation for Quantum Thermal Averages
Abstract
The Lie--Trotter product formula is a foundational approximation for the quantum partition function, yet obtaining rigorous error bounds for the unbounded Hamiltonians common in physics remains a challenge. This paper provides a quantitative error analysis for this approximation across two systems. For a particle in a smooth, periodic potential, we establish an optimal convergence rate of $\mathcal O(1/N^2)$ for both the partition function and thermal averages, where $N$ is the number of imaginary time steps. We then extend this analysis to the more challenging case of a confining potential on $\mathbb R$, proving a nearly optimal rate of $\mathcal O((\log N+1)^{1.5}/N^2)$. The derived error bounds provide a firm mathematical foundation for the second-order accuracy of path integral simulations in quantum statistical mechanics.
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Xuda Ye, Zhennan Zhou. 2023-09-11. Optimal Convergence Rate of Lie-Trotter Approximation for Quantum Thermal Averages. https://arxiv.org/abs/2309.05188
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