Spectral gaps of AKLT Hamiltonians using Tensor Network methods

Using exact diagonalization and tensor network techniques we compute the gap for the AKLT Hamiltonian in 1D and 2D spatial dimensions. Tensor Network methods are used to extract physical properties directly in the thermodynamic limit, and we support these results using finite-size scalings from exact diagonalization. Studying the AKLT Hamiltonian perturbed by an external field, we show how to obtain an accurate value of the gap of the original AKLT Hamiltonian from the field value at which the ground state verifies e_0<0, which is a quantum critical point. With the Tensor Network Renormalization Group methods we provide evidence of a finite gap in the thermodynamic limit for the AKLT models in the 1D chain and 2D hexagonal and square lattices. This method can be applied generally to Hamiltonians with rotational symmetry, and we also show results beyond the AKLT model.

Renormalization group contraction of tensor networks in three dimensions

We present a new strategy for contracting tensor networks in arbitrary geometries. This method is designed to follow as strictly as possible the renormalization group philosophy, by first contracting tensors in an exact way and, then, performing a controlled truncation of the resulting tensor. We benchmark this approximation procedure in two dimensions against an exact contraction. We then apply the same idea to a three dimensional system. The underlying rational for emphasizing the exact coarse graining renormalization group step prior to truncation is related to monogamy of entanglement.

Local temperature in quantum thermal states

We consider blocks of quantum spins in a chain at thermal equilibrium, focusing on their properties from a thermodynamical perspective. Whereas in classical systems the temperature behaves as an intensive magnitude, a deviation from this behavior is expected in quantum systems. In particular, we see that under some conditions the description of the blocks as thermal states with the same global temperature as the whole chain fails. We analyze this issue by employing the quantum fidelity as a figure of merit, singling out in detail the departure from the classical behavior. The influence in this sense of zero-temperature quantum phase transitions can be clearly observed within this approach. Then we show that the blocks can be considered indeed as thermal states with a high fidelity, provided an effective local temperature is properly identified. Such a result originates from typical properties of reduced sub-systems of energy-constrained Hilbert spaces. Finally, the relation between local and global temperature is analyzed as a function of the size of the blocks and the system parameters.

Area laws and entanglement distillability of thermal states

We study the entanglement distillability properties of thermal states of many-body systems. Following the ideas presented in [D.Cavalcanti et al., arxiv:0705.3762], we first discuss the appearance of bound entanglement in those systems satisfying an entanglement area law. Then, we extend these results to other topologies, not necessarily satisfying an entanglement area law. We also study whether bound entanglement survives in the macroscopic limit of an infinite number of particles.