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

Abstract

In a previous letter (Alcaraz F C et al 2014 J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 47 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 ZN 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.