Infinite time-evolving block decimation algorithm beyond unitary evolution

Abstract

The infinite time-evolving block decimation algorithm [G. Vidal, Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 070201 (2007)] allows to simulate unitary evolution and to compute the ground state of one-dimensional (1D) quantum lattice systems in the thermodynamic limit. Here we extend the algorithm to tackle a much broader class of problems, namely, the simulation of arbitrary one-dimensional evolution operators that can be expressed as a (translationally invariant) tensor network. Relatedly, we also address the problem of finding the dominant eigenvalue and eigenvector of a one-dimensional transfer matrix that can be expressed in the same way. New applications include the simulation, in the thermodynamic limit, of open (i.e., master equation) dynamics and thermal states in 1D quantum systems, as well as calculations with partition functions in two-dimensional (2D) classical systems, on which we elaborate. The present extension of the algorithm also plays a prominent role in the infinite projected entangled-pair states approach to infinite 2D quantum lattice systems.