Comment on “Quantum Monte Carlo scheme for frustrated Heisenberg antiferromagnets”

K. S. D. Beach, Matthieu Mambrini, and Fabien Alet
Phys. Rev. B 77, 146401 – Published 14 April 2008

Abstract

Quantum Monte Carlo methods are sophisticated numerical techniques for simulating interacting quantum systems. In some cases, however, they suffer from the notorious “sign problem” and become too inefficient to be useful. A recent publication [J. Wojtkiewicz, Phys. Rev. B 75, 174421 (2007)] claims to have solved the sign problem for a certain class of frustrated quantum spin systems through the use of a bipartite valence bond basis. We show in this Comment that the apparent positivity of the path integral is due to a misconception about the resolution of the identity operator in this basis and that consequently the sign problem remains a severe obstacle for the simulation of frustrated quantum magnets.

  • Received 20 July 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.77.146401

©2008 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

K. S. D. Beach1,2, Matthieu Mambrini3, and Fabien Alet3

  • 1Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik, Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany
  • 2Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G7
  • 3Laboratoire de Physique Théorique, IRSAMC, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, 31062 Toulouse, France

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Original Article

Quantum Monte Carlo scheme for frustrated Heisenberg antiferromagnets

Jacek Wojtkiewicz
Phys. Rev. B 75, 174421 (2007)

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Issue

Vol. 77, Iss. 14 — 1 April 2008

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