arXiv subjects

Francisco C. Alcaraz

Publications and source records attributed to Francisco C. Alcaraz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Free fermionic and parafermionic multispin quantum chains with non-homogeneous interacting ranges

A large family of multispin interacting one-dimensional quantum spin models with $Z(N)$ symmetry and a free-particle eigenspectra are known in the literature. They are free-fermionic ($N=2$) and free-parafermionic ($N\geq 2$) quantum chains. The essential ingredient that implies the free-particle spectra is the fact that these Hamiltonians are expressed in terms of generators of a $Z(N)$ exchange algebra. In all these known quantum chains the number of spins in all the multispin interactions (range of interactions) is the same and therefore, the models have homogeneous interacting range. In this paper we extend the $Z(N)$ exchange algebra, by introducing new models with a free-particle spectra, where the interaction ranges of the multispin interactions are not uniform anymore and depends on the lattice sites (non-homogeneous interacting range). We obtain the general conditions that the site-dependent ranges of the multispin interactions have to satisfy to ensure a free-particle spectra. Several simple examples are introduced. We study in detail the critical properties in the case where the range of interactions of the even (odd) sites are constant. The dynamical critical exponent is evaluated in several cases.

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arXiv2024

Conformally invariant free parafermionic quantum chains with multispin interactions

We calculated the spectral properties of two related families of non-Hermitian free-particle quantum chains with $N$-multispin interactions ($N=2,3,\ldots$). The first family have a $Z(N)$ symmetry and are described by free parafermions. The second one has a $U(1)$ symmetry and are generalizations of $XX$ quantum chains described by free fermions. The eigenspectra of both free-particle families are formed by the combination of the same pseudo-energies. The models have a multicritical point with dynamical critical exponent $z=1$. The finite-size behavior of their eigenspectra, as well as the entanglement properties of their ground state wave function, indicate the models are conformally invariant. The models with open and periodic boundary conditions show quite distinct physics due to their non-Hermiticity. The models defined with open boundaries have a single conformal invariant phase while the $XX$ multispin models show multiple phases with distinct conformal central charges in the periodic case. The critical exponents of the models are calculated for $N=3,4,5$ and $6$.

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arXiv2023

Random free-fermion quantum spin chain with multi-spin interactions

We study the effects of quenched disorder in a class of quantum chains with (p+1)-multispin interactions exhibiting a free fermionic spectrum, paying special attention to the case p=2. Depending if disorder couples to (i) all the couplings or just to (ii) some of them, we have two distinct physical scenarios. In case (i), we find that the transitions of the model are governed by a universal infinite-randomness critical point surrounded by quantum Griffiths phases similarly as happens to the random transverse-field Ising chain. In case (ii), we find that quenched disorder becomes an irrelevant perturbation: the clean critical behavior is stable and Griffiths phases are absent. Beyond the perturbative regime, disorder stabilizes a line of finite-randomness critical points (with nonuniversal critical exponents), that ends in a multicritical point of infinite-randomness type. In that case, quantum Griffiths phases also appear surrounding the finite-disorder transition point. We have characterized the correlation functions and the low-temperature thermodynamics of these chains. Our results are derived from a strong-disorder renormalization-group technique and from finite-size scaling analysis of the spectral gap computed exactly (up to sizes ~10^{7}) via an efficient new numerical method recently introduced in the literature [Phys. Rev. B 104, 174206 (2021)].

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arXiv2023

Ising analogues of quantum spin chains with multispin interactions

A new family of free fermionic quantum spin chains with multispin interactions was recently introduced. Here we show that it is possible to build standard quantum Ising chains -- but with inhomogeneous couplings -- which have the same spectra as the novel spin chains with multispin interactions. The Ising models are obtained by associating an antisymmetric tridiagonal matrix to the polynomials that characterize the quasienergies of the system via a modified Euclidean algorithm. For the simplest non-trivial case, corresponding to the Fendley model, the phase diagram of the inhomogeneous Ising model is investigated numerically. It is characterized by gapped phases separated by critical lines with order-disorder transitions depending on the parity of the total number of energy density operators in the Hamiltonian.

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arXiv2022

Free-parafermionic $Z(N)$ and free-fermionic $XY$ quantum chains

The relationship between the eigenspectrum of Ising and XY quantum chains is well known. Although the Ising model has a $Z(2)$ symmetry and the XY model a $U(1)$ symmetry, both models are described in terms of free-fermionic quasi-particles. The fermionic quasi-energies are obtained by means of a Jordan-Wigner transformation. On the other hand, there exist in the literature a huge family of $Z(N)$ quantum chains whose eigenspectra, for $N>2$, are given in terms of free parafermions and they are not derived from the standard Jordan-Wigner transformation. The first members of this family are the $Z(N)$ free-parafermionic Baxter quantum chains. In this paper we introduce a family of XY models that beyond two-body also have $N$-multispin interactions. Similarly to the standard XY model they have a $U(1)$ symmetry and are also solved by the Jordan-Wigner transformation. We show that with appropriate choices of the $N$-multispin couplings, the eigenspectra of these XY models are given in terms of combinations of $Z(N)$ free-parafermionic quasi-energies. In particular all the eigenenergies of the $Z(N)$ free-parafermionic models are also present in the related free-fermionic XY models. The correspondence is established via the identification of the characteristic polynomial which fixes the eigenspectrum. In the $Z(N)$ free-parafermionic models the quasi-energies obey an exclusion circle principle that is not present in the related $N$-multispin XY models.

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arXiv2021

Powerful method to evaluate the mass gaps of free-particle quantum critical systems

We present a numerical method for the evaluation of the mass gap, and the low-lying energy gaps, of a large family of free-fermionic and free-parafermionic quantum chains. The method is suitable for some generalizations of the quantum Ising and XY models with multispin interactions. We illustrate the method by considering the Ising quantum chains with uniform and random coupling constants. The mass gaps of these quantum chains are obtained from the largest root of a characteristic polynomial. We also show that the Laguerre bound, for the largest root of a polynomial, used as an initial guess for the largest root in the method, gives us estimates for the mass gaps sharing the same leading finite-size behavior as the exact results. This opens an interesting possibility of obtaining precise critical properties very efficiently which we explore by studying the critical point and the paramagnetic Griffiths phase of the quantum Ising chain with random couplings. In this last phase, we obtain the effective dynamical critical exponent as a function of the distance-to-criticality. Finally, we compare the mass gap estimates derived from the Laguerre bound and the strong-disorder renormalization-group method. Both estimates require comparable computational efforts, with the former having the advantage of being more accurate and also being applicable away from infinite-randomness fixed points. We believe this method is a relevant tool for tackling critical quantum chains with and without quenched disorder.

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arXiv2020

Integrable quantum spin chains with free fermionic and parafermionic spectrum

We present a general study of the large family of exact integrable quantum chains with multispin interactions introduced recently in \cite{AP2020}. The exact integrability follows from the algebraic properties of the energy density operators defining the quantum chains. The Hamiltonians are characterized by a parameter $p=1,2,\dots$ related to the number of interacting spins in the multispin interaction. In the general case the quantum spins are of infinite dimension. In special cases, characterized by the parameter $N=2,3,\ldots$, the quantum chains describe the dynamics of $Z(N)$ quantum spin chains. The simplest case $p=1$ corresponds to the free fermionic quantum Ising chain ($N=2$) or the $Z(N)$ free parafermionic quantum chain. The eigenenergies of the quantum chains are given in terms of the roots of special polynomials, and for general values of $p$ the quantum chains are characterized by a free fermionic ($N=2$) or free parafermionic ($N>2$) eigenspectrum. The models have a special critical point when all coupling constants are equal. At this point the ground-state energy is exactly calculated in the bulk limit, and our analytical and numerical analyses indicate that the models belong to universality classes of critical behavior with dynamical critical exponent $z = (p+1)/N$ and specific-heat exponent $α= \max\{0,1-(p+1)/N\}$.

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arXiv2020

Free fermionic and parafermionic quantum spin chains with multispin interactions

We introduce a new a family of $Z(N)$ multispins quantum chains with a free-fermionic ($N=2$) or free-parafermionic ($N>2$) eigenspectrum. The models have $(p+1)$ interacting spins ($p=1,2,\dots$), being Hermitian in the $Z(2)$ (Ising) case and non-Hermitian for $N>2$. We construct a set of mutually commuting charges that allows us to derive the eigenenergies in terms of the roots of polynomials generated by a recurrence relation of order $(p+1)$. In the critical limit we identify these polynomials with certain hypergeometric polynomials ${}_{p+1}F_p$. Also in the critical regime, we calculate the ground state energy in the bulk limit and verify that they are given in terms of the Lauricella hypergeometric series. The models with special couplings are self-dual and at the self-dual point show a critical behavior with dynamical critical exponent $z_c=\frac{p+1}{N}$.

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arXiv2018

Anomalous bulk behaviour in the free parafermion $Z(N)$ spin chain

We demonstrate using direct numerical diagonalization and extrapolation methods that boundary conditions have a profound effect on the bulk properties of a simple $Z(N)$ model for $N \ge 3$ for which the model hamiltonian is non-hermitian. For $N=2$ the model reduces to the well known quantum Ising model in a transverse field. For open boundary conditions the $Z(N)$ model is known to be solved exactly in terms of free parafermions. Once the ends of the open chain are connected by considering the model on a ring, the bulk properties, including the ground-state energy per site, are seen to differ dramatically with increasing $N$. Other properties, such as the leading finite-size corrections to the ground-state energy, the mass gap exponent and the specific heat exponent, are also seen to be dependent on the boundary conditions. We speculate that this anomalous bulk behaviour is a topological effect.

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arXiv2016

Entanglement properties of correlated random spin chains and similarities with conformal invariant systems

We study the Rényi entanglement entropy and the Shannon mutual information for a class of spin-1/2 quantum critical XXZ chains with random coupling constants which are partially correlated. In the XX case, distinctly from the usual uncorrelated random case where the system is governed by an infinite-disorder fixed point, the correlated-disorder chain is governed by finite-disorder fixed points. Surprisingly, we verify that, although the system is not conformally invariant, the leading behavior of the Rényi entanglement entropies are similar to those of the clean (no randomness) conformally invariant system. In addition, we compute the Shannon mutual information among subsystems of our correlated-disorder quantum chain and verify the same leading behavior as the $n=2$ Rényi entanglement entropy. This result extends a recent conjecture concerning the same universal behavior of these quantities for conformally invariant quantum chains. For the generic spin-1/2 quantum critical XXZ case, the true asymptotic regime is identical to that in the uncorrelated disorder case. However, these finite-disorder fixed points govern the low-energy physics up to a very long crossover length scale and the same results as in the XX case apply. Our results are based on exact numerical calculations and on a numerical strong-disorder renormalization group.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2015

Correlation functions in conformal invariant stochastic processes

We consider the problem of correlation functions in the stationary states of one-dimensional stochastic models having conformal invariance. If one considers the space dependence of the correlators, the novel aspect is that although one considers systems with periodic boundary conditions, the observables are described by boundary operators. From our experience with equilibrium problems one would have expected bulk operators. Boundary operators have correlators having critical exponents being half of those of bulk operators. If one studies the space-time dependence of the two-point function, one has to consider one boundary and one bulk operators. The Raise and Peel model has conformal invariance as can be shown in the spin 1/2 basis of the Hamiltonian which gives the time evolution of the system. This is an XXZ quantum chain with twisted boundary condition and local interactions. This Hamiltonian is integrable and the spectrum is known in the finite-size scaling limit. In the stochastic base in which the process is defined, the Hamiltonian is not local anymore. The mapping into an SOS model, helps to define new local operators. As a byproduct some new properties of the SOS model are conjectured. The predictions of conformal invariance are discussed in the new framework and compared with Monte Carlo simulations.

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arXiv2014

Stochastic processes with Z_N symmetry and complex Virasoro representations. The partition functions

In a previous Letter (J. Phys. A v.47 (2014) 212003) we have presented numerical evidence that a Hamiltonian expressed in terms of the generators of the periodic Temperley-Lieb algebra has, in the finite-size scaling limit, a spectrum given by representations of the Virasoro algebra with complex highest weights. This Hamiltonian defines a stochastic process with a Z_N symmetry. We give here analytical expressions for the partition functions for this system which confirm the numerics. For N even, the Hamiltonian has a symmetry which makes the spectrum doubly degenerate leading to two independent stochastic processes. The existence of a complex spectrum leads to an oscillating approach to the stationary state. This phenomenon is illustrated by an example.

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arXiv2014

Cyclic representations of the periodic Temperley Lieb algebra, complex Virasoro representations and stochastic processes

An $N$ ${L} \choose {L/2}$-dimensional representation of the periodic Temperley-Lieb algebra $TL_L(x)$ is presented. It is also a representation of the cyclic group $Z_N$. We choose $x = 1$ and define a Hamiltonian as a sum of the generators of the algebra acting in this representation. This Hamiltonian gives the time evolution operator of a stochastic process. In the finite-size scaling limit, the spectrum of the Hamiltonian contains representations of the Virasoro algebra with complex highest weights. The $N = 3$ case is discussed in detail. One discusses shortly the consequences of the existence of complex Virasoro representations on the physical properties of the systems.

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arXiv2013

Nonlocal Asymmetric exclusion process on a ring and conformal invariance

We present a one-dimensional nonlocal hopping model with exclusion on a ring. The model is related to the Raise and Peel growth model. A nonnegative parameter $u$ controls the ratio of the local backwards and nonlocal forwards hopping rates. The phase diagram and consequently the values of the current, depend on $u$ and the density of particles. In the special case of half-filling and $u = 1$ the system is conformal invariant and an exact value of the current for any size $L$ of the system is conjectured and checked for large lattice sizes in Monte Carlo simulations. For $u > 1$ the current has a non-analytic dependence on the density when the latter approaches the half-filling value.

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arXiv2012

Nonlocal growth processes and conformal invariance

Up to now the raise and peel model was the single known example of a one-dimensional stochastic process where one can observe conformal invariance. The model has one-parameter. Depending on its value one has a gapped phase, a critical point where one has conformal invariance and a gapless phase with changing values of the dynamical critical exponent $z$. In this model, adsorption is local but desorption is not. The raise and strip model presented here in which desorption is also nonlocal, has the same phase diagram. The critical exponents are different as are some physical properties of the model. Our study suggest the possible existence of a whole class of stochastic models in which one can observe conformal invariance.

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arXiv2011

From conformal invariance to quasistationary states

In a conformal invariant one-dimensional stochastic model, a certain non-local perturbation takes the system to a new massless phase of a special kind. The ground-state of the system is an adsorptive state. Part of the finite-size scaling spectrum of the evolution Hamiltonian stays unchanged but some levels go exponentially to zero for large lattice sizes becoming degenerate with the ground-state. As a consequence one observes the appearance of quasistationary states which have a relaxation time which grows exponentially with the size of the system. Several initial conditions have singled out a quasistationary state which has in the finite-size scaling limit the same properties as the stationary state of the conformal invariant model.

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arXiv2010

A conformal invariant growth model

We present a one-parameter extension of the raise and peel one-dimensional growth model. The model is defined in the configuration space of Dyck (RSOS) paths. Tiles from a rarefied gas hit the interface and change its shape. The adsorption rates are local but the desorption rates are non-local, they depend not only on the cluster hit by the tile but also on the total number of peaks (local maxima) belonging to all the clusters of the configuration. The domain of the parameter is determined by the condition that the rates are non-negative. In the finite-size scaling limit, the model is conformal invariant in the whole open domain. The parameter appears in the sound velocity only. At the boundary of the domain, the stationary state is an adsorbing state and conformal invariance is lost. The model allows to check the universality of nonlocal observables in the raise and peel model. An example is given.

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arXiv2010

Phase diagram and spectral properties of a new exactly integrable spin one quantum chain

The spectral properties and phase diagram of the exact integrable spin one quantum chain introduced by Alcaraz and Bariev are presented. The model has a U(1) symmetry and its integrability is associated to an unknown R-matrix whose dependence on the spectral parameters is not of difference form. The associated Bethe ansatz equations, that fix the eigenspectra, are distinct from those associated to other known integrable spin models. The model has a free parameter $t_p$. We show that at the special point $t_p=1$ the model gets an extra U(1) symmetry and reduces to the deformed SU(3) Perk-Schultz model at a special value of its anisotropy $q=\exp(i2π/3)$ andin the presence of an external magnetic field. Our analysis is done either by solving the associated Bethe-ansatz equations or by direct diagonalization of thequantum Hamiltonian for small lattice sizes. The phase diagram is calculated by exploring the consequences of conformal invariance on the finite-size corrections of the Hamiltonian eigenspectrum. The model exhibits a critical phase ruled by $c=1$ conformal field theory separated from a massive phase by first-order phase transitions.

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