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The Jordan–Wigner transformation is an exact representation of an ordered chain of spin-1/21/2 operators by canonical fermionic operators. Its defining ingredient is a parity string extending from the beginning of the chain to the transformed site. That string converts commuting spin operators on distinct sites into anticommuting fermion operators.

The map is especially powerful in one dimension because strings cancel in many nearest-neighbor even operators. The transverse-field Ising and anisotropic XY chains then become quadratic fermion Hamiltonians. The transformation does not make every spin model free, does not preserve locality for arbitrary geometries or observables, and does not allow periodic boundaries to be handled without a parity-sector choice.

Helpful background. Pauli matrices supplies local ladders, and fermion anticommutation states the target algebra.

Take LL two-state sites with a declared order

1<2<⋯<L.1<2<\cdots<L.

Let Xj,Yj,ZjX_j,Y_j,Z_j be Pauli matrices on site jj. Operators on different spin sites commute:

[Xi,Xj]=[Xi,Yj]=[Xi,Zj]=0,i≠j.[X_i,X_j] = [X_i,Y_j] = [X_i,Z_j] = 0, \qquad i\ne j.

Introduce the local Pauli ladder operators

σj+=Xj+iYj2,σj−=Xj−iYj2.\sigma_j^+ = \frac{X_j+iY_j}{2}, \qquad \sigma_j^- = \frac{X_j-iY_j}{2}.

This page uses the qubit-standard occupation convention

nj=1−Zj2.n_j = \frac{1-Z_j}{2}.

Thus the Zj=+1Z_j=+1 state is empty and the Zj=−1Z_j=-1 state is occupied:

∣0⟩j⟷Zj=+1,∣1⟩j⟷Zj=−1.\begin{aligned} \lvert0\rangle_j &\longleftrightarrow Z_j=+1, \\ \lvert1\rangle_j &\longleftrightarrow Z_j=-1. \end{aligned}

With this choice, σj+\sigma_j^+ annihilates the occupied state and σj−\sigma_j^- creates it. Some spin-chain references choose the opposite identification. The convention translation is given explicitly below.

It is tempting to identify

cj=?σj+.c_j \stackrel{?}{=} \sigma_j^+.

On one site this has the desired nilpotency. On distinct sites, however,

[σi+,σj+]=0,i≠j,[\sigma_i^+,\sigma_j^+] = 0, \qquad i\ne j,

whereas fermions require

{ci,cj}=0.\{c_i,c_j\} = 0.

Commuting hard-core ladder operators and anticommuting fermion operators share the local occupation rule nj=0,1n_j=0,1, but they differ in exchange signs. The missing information is the parity of all occupied modes that an operator must pass in the chosen ordering.

Define the parity to the left of site jj by

Kj=∏ℓ<jZℓ.K_j = \prod_{\ell<j}Z_\ell.

The empty product is the identity, so

K1=I.K_1 = I.

Because Zℓ=1−2nℓZ_\ell=1-2n_\ell,

Kj=∏ℓ<j(1−2nℓ)=exp⁡ ⁣(iπ∑ℓ<jnℓ).K_j = \prod_{\ell<j}(1-2n_\ell) = \exp\!\left( i\pi \sum_{\ell<j}n_\ell \right).

On an occupation basis state,

Kj∣n1⋯nL⟩=(−1)∑ℓ<jnℓ∣n1⋯nL⟩.K_j \lvert n_1\cdots n_L\rangle = (-1)^{\sum_{\ell<j}n_\ell} \lvert n_1\cdots n_L\rangle.

The string is Hermitian and unitary:

Kj†=Kj,Kj2=I.K_j^\dagger = K_j, \qquad K_j^2 = I.

It commutes with every operator on site jj, but it contains a ZiZ_i factor for every earlier site i<ji<j. Since ZiZ_i anticommutes with σi±\sigma_i^\pm, that one factor supplies the sign needed when two transformed operators are exchanged.

Define

cj=Kjσj+=(∏ℓ<jZℓ)Xj+iYj2,c_j = K_j\sigma_j^+ = \left( \prod_{\ell<j}Z_\ell \right) \frac{X_j+iY_j}{2},

and

cj†=Kjσj−=(∏ℓ<jZℓ)Xj−iYj2.c_j^\dagger = K_j\sigma_j^- = \left( \prod_{\ell<j}Z_\ell \right) \frac{X_j-iY_j}{2}.

Since KjK_j commutes with site jj, it may be written on either side of σj±\sigma_j^\pm. The operator cjc_j removes an occupation at site jj, while cj†c_j^\dagger adds one with the sign determined by all earlier occupations.

The local density is

nj=cj†cj,n_j = c_j^\dagger c_j,

so

Zj=1−2nj.Z_j = 1-2n_j.

The transverse Pauli operators are

Xj=Kj(cj+cj†),X_j = K_j \left(c_j+c_j^\dagger\right),

and

Yj=iKj(cj†−cj).Y_j = iK_j \left(c_j^\dagger-c_j\right).

Equivalently,

σj+=Kjcj,σj−=Kjcj†.\sigma_j^+ = K_jc_j, \qquad \sigma_j^- = K_jc_j^\dagger.

This is an exact operator dictionary on a finite ordered chain. Both the spin Hilbert space and the fermionic Fock space have dimension 2L2^L, and the occupation product basis identifies their vectors one to one. What changes is the locality and grading of the operator representation.

The transformed operators must satisfy

{ci,cj†}=δijI,{ci,cj}=0.\{c_i,c_j^\dagger\} = \delta_{ij}I, \qquad \{c_i,c_j\} = 0.

Because Kj2=IK_j^2=I and KjK_j commutes with σj±\sigma_j^\pm,

cj2=Kj2(σj+)2=0.c_j^2 = K_j^2(\sigma_j^+)^2 = 0.

Similarly,

(cj†)2=0.(c_j^\dagger)^2 = 0.

The mixed anticommutator is

{cj,cj†}=Kj2(σj+σj−+σj−σj+)=I.\begin{aligned} \{c_j,c_j^\dagger\} &= K_j^2 \left( \sigma_j^+\sigma_j^- + \sigma_j^-\sigma_j^+ \right) \\ &= I. \end{aligned}

Thus Pauli exclusion is already present locally.

Let i<ji<j and write

Kj=KiZiRij,K_j = K_i Z_i R_{ij},

where

Rij=∏i<ℓ<jZℓ.R_{ij} = \prod_{i<\ell<j}Z_\ell.

All factors in RijR_{ij} commute with operators on sites ii and jj. The crucial one-site identities are

σi+Zi=−σi+,Ziσi+=σi+.\sigma_i^+Z_i = -\sigma_i^+, \qquad Z_i\sigma_i^+ = \sigma_i^+.

Therefore

cicj=Kiσi+KiZiRijσj+=−σi+Rijσj+,\begin{aligned} c_ic_j &= K_i\sigma_i^+ K_iZ_iR_{ij}\sigma_j^+ \\ &= -\sigma_i^+R_{ij}\sigma_j^+, \end{aligned}

whereas

cjci=KiZiRijσj+Kiσi+=+σi+Rijσj+.\begin{aligned} c_jc_i &= K_iZ_iR_{ij}\sigma_j^+ K_i\sigma_i^+ \\ &= +\sigma_i^+R_{ij}\sigma_j^+. \end{aligned}

Hence

cicj=−cjci.c_ic_j = -c_jc_i.

Replacing σj+\sigma_j^+ by σj−\sigma_j^- gives

cicj†=−cj†ci,i≠j.c_ic_j^\dagger = -c_j^\dagger c_i, \qquad i\ne j.

The full canonical anticommutation relations follow. Only one parity factor, ZiZ_i, is responsible for the sign; the rest of the string records where that factor must appear for every ordered pair.

The operator action is

cj∣n1⋯nj⋯nL⟩=(−1)∑ℓ<jnℓnj×∣n1⋯0j⋯nL⟩,c_j \lvert n_1\cdots n_j\cdots n_L\rangle ={} (-1)^{\sum_{\ell<j}n_\ell} n_j \times \lvert n_1\cdots0_j\cdots n_L\rangle,

and

cj†∣n1⋯nj⋯nL⟩=(−1)∑ℓ<jnℓ(1−nj)×∣n1⋯1j⋯nL⟩.c_j^\dagger \lvert n_1\cdots n_j\cdots n_L\rangle ={} (-1)^{\sum_{\ell<j}n_\ell} (1-n_j) \times \lvert n_1\cdots1_j\cdots n_L\rangle.

For example,

c3∣101⟩=−∣100⟩,c_3\lvert101\rangle = -\lvert100\rangle,

because one occupied mode lies to the left of site three. A bare local spin ladder would remove the third occupation but miss this minus sign.

This basis action is often the fastest way to debug a matrix implementation. It must agree with both the bit-order convention and the Pauli-string formula.

The dictionary above uses

sjz=Zj2=12−nj.s_j^z = \frac{Z_j}{2} = \frac12-n_j.

The XXZ Spin Chain and Spinless Fermion Chains pages use the opposite spin-axis convention,

s~jz=nj−12=−sjz.\widetilde s_j^z = n_j-\frac12 = -s_j^z.

A rotation by π\pi about the xx axis gives

s~jx=sjx,s~jy=−sjy,s~jz=−sjz.\widetilde s_j^x=s_j^x, \qquad \widetilde s_j^y=-s_j^y, \qquad \widetilde s_j^z=-s_j^z.

Consequently,

s~j+=sj−=cj†Kj.\widetilde s_j^+ = s_j^- = c_j^\dagger K_j.

Both conventions are correct. They differ in which spin orientation is called occupied and in the sign assigned to a longitudinal field or chemical potential. Mixing formulas from the two conventions without this rotation creates spurious sign disagreements.

The usefulness of the transformation comes from string cancellation in parity-even local combinations.

The local relation is string free:

Zj=1−2nj.Z_j = 1-2n_j.

Therefore

ZjZj+1=(1−2nj)(1−2nj+1).Z_jZ_{j+1} = (1-2n_j)(1-2n_{j+1}).

A longitudinal spin interaction becomes a density interaction rather than a quadratic term.

Since

Kj+1=KjZj,K_{j+1} = K_jZ_j,

the common part of the two strings squares to the identity. Direct substitution gives

XjXj+1=(cj†−cj)(cj+1†+cj+1).X_jX_{j+1} = \left(c_j^\dagger-c_j\right) \left(c_{j+1}^\dagger+c_{j+1}\right).

The result is local and quadratic. It contains both hopping and pairing:

XjXj+1=cj†cj+1+cj+1†cj+cj†cj+1†−cjcj+1.X_jX_{j+1} = {} c_j^\dagger c_{j+1} + c_{j+1}^\dagger c_j + c_j^\dagger c_{j+1}^\dagger - c_jc_{j+1}.

Similarly,

XjXj+1+YjYj+1=2(cj†cj+1+cj+1†cj),X_jX_{j+1} + Y_jY_{j+1} = 2 \left( c_j^\dagger c_{j+1} + c_{j+1}^\dagger c_j \right),

while

XjXj+1−YjYj+1=2(cj†cj+1†−cjcj+1).X_jX_{j+1} - Y_jY_{j+1} = 2 \left( c_j^\dagger c_{j+1}^\dagger - c_jc_{j+1} \right).

The isotropic XYXY combination preserves fermion number. Anisotropy introduces pair creation and annihilation, preserving only fermion parity.

For i<ji<j, the strings do not disappear completely:

XiXj=(ci†−ci)[∏i<ℓ<j(1−2nℓ)]×(cj†+cj).X_iX_j = {} \left(c_i^\dagger-c_i\right) \left[ \prod_{i<\ell<j}(1-2n_\ell) \right] \times \left(c_j^\dagger+c_j\right).

Thus a local spin correlation can become a fermionic string correlation. Conversely, a single local fermion operator is a spin ladder multiplied by a long Pauli string. Spectral equivalence does not imply that locality or correlation complexity is unchanged.

The algebraic map needs only a total ordering, so a finite set of modes can always be linearized. The one-dimensional advantage is stronger: geometric nearest neighbors can also be consecutive in the ordering. Their strings then cancel to a bounded local operator.

In more than one spatial dimension, choose any snake-like ordering. Some geometric nearest neighbors will be far apart in that order. A local hopping or spin-exchange term can then acquire a string crossing many intervening modes. The representation remains exact, but geometric locality is generally lost.

This is the precise limitation:

  • Jordan–Wigner is not algebraically forbidden beyond one dimension;
  • a naive single ordering does not preserve locality for all higher-dimensional nearest-neighbor bonds;
  • higher-dimensional fermionization can introduce gauge fields or more elaborate auxiliary structure to recover a local description;
  • the choice of ordering affects computational string lengths but not the underlying fermionic spectrum.

Parity-string support for one fermion and for adjacent or separated transverse spin products

The operator at site jj carries the parity of every earlier occupation. Adjacent even products cancel their common strings, but separated operators retain the parity of intervening sites. The shaded factors are operators, not occupied sites. For an actual state, each contributes its eigenvalue (−1)nℓ(-1)^{n_\ell}.

The total fermion number is

N=∑j=1Lnj.N = \sum_{j=1}^{L}n_j.

Its parity is

P=(−1)N=eiπN=∏j=1L(1−2nj)=∏j=1LZj.P = (-1)^N = e^{i\pi N} = \prod_{j=1}^{L}(1-2n_j) = \prod_{j=1}^{L}Z_j.

An operator with an even number of cc and c†c^\dagger factors commutes with PP. An odd operator anticommutes with it. Number-nonconserving quadratic spin chains therefore often retain exact parity even when they do not retain exact fermion number.

For the rotated transverse-field Ising chain below, PP is exactly the global spin-flip symmetry of the original spin convention.

For an open chain, every nearest-neighbor bond lies inside the chosen order. No interaction closes from site LL back to site 11, so no full-chain string appears.

The map is then a direct equality between the complete 2L2^L-dimensional spin Hilbert space and the complete 2L2^L-dimensional fermion Fock space. One may still block diagonalize by parity when the Hamiltonian preserves it, but no parity-dependent boundary condition is needed to define the transformed open Hamiltonian.

Open chains are therefore the cleanest setting for a first derivation. They also expose edge Majorana operators in the Ising example without the extra ring closure term.

Suppose the spin Hamiltonian contains a boundary bond between sites LL and 11. The local cancellation used for j<Lj<L no longer applies in the same way because the chosen order has a cut between those sites.

For the transverse product,

XLX1=−P(cL†−cL)(c1†+c1).X_LX_1 = -P \left(c_L^\dagger-c_L\right) \left(c_1^\dagger+c_1\right).

The minus sign follows from moving the total parity operator past one odd local fermion factor. Therefore a periodic spin coupling −JXLX1-JX_LX_1 becomes

+JP(cL†−cL)(c1†+c1).+JP \left(c_L^\dagger-c_L\right) \left(c_1^\dagger+c_1\right).

The transformed Hamiltonian is still quadratic within a fixed parity sector, because PP can then be replaced by its eigenvalue p=±1p=\pm1. It is not one unrestricted quadratic Hamiltonian with one universal boundary condition.

The bulk expression can be extended uniformly through the boundary by imposing

cL+1=−pc1.c_{L+1} = -p c_1.

Hence

Fixed parity Effective fermion boundary Allowed wave numbers
p=+1p=+1 (even NN) antiperiodic, cL+1=−c1c_{L+1}=-c_1 k=(2m+1)π/(La)k=(2m+1)\pi/(La)
p=−1p=-1 (odd NN) periodic, cL+1=c1c_{L+1}=c_1 k=2πm/(La)k=2\pi m/(La)

This table uses the convention of this page and an untwisted periodic spin ring. A staggered gauge change can shift signs and momenta, but it cannot remove the need to correlate the fermion boundary with parity.

Fixing pp determines the boundary condition used to diagonalize the quadratic Hamiltonian. One must also retain only many-body states with the same physical parity:

(−1)N=p.(-1)^N = p.

Pair rotations generated by even quadratic operators preserve physical parity, but the quasiparticle vacuum need not have even original-fermion parity. Filling an unpaired mode, or relabeling it by a particle–hole exchange, changes that reference parity. If the diagonalization gives vacuum parity pvacp_{\mathrm{vac}}, a state with NγN_\gamma quasiparticles has

P=pvac(−1)Nγ.P=p_{\mathrm{vac}}(-1)^{N_\gamma}.

Keep only states satisfying this equation with the chosen pp. Ignoring the vacuum parity can select an unphysical candidate ground state; retaining both full quadratic Fock spaces doubles the spin Hilbert space.

The self-inverse wave numbers satisfy k=−kk=-k modulo 2π/a2\pi/a: they are 00 and π/a\pi/a. Their presence depends on both grid and length. For even LL, both occur in the periodic sector and neither in the antiperiodic sector. For odd LL, 00 is periodic but π/a\pi/a is antiperiodic. Treat them as single unpaired modes rather than double-counted k,−kk,-k blocks.

Before specializing to Ising, consider

HXY=−J∑j[1+γ2XjXj+1+1−γ2YjYj+1]−h∑jZj.H_{XY} = {} -J \sum_j \left[ \frac{1+\gamma}{2}X_jX_{j+1} + \frac{1-\gamma}{2}Y_jY_{j+1} \right] - h \sum_jZ_j.

For an open chain, Jordan–Wigner gives

HXY=−J∑j=1L−1[cj†cj+1+cj+1†cj+γ(cj†cj+1†−cjcj+1)]−h∑j=1L(1−2nj).H_{XY} = {} -J \sum_{j=1}^{L-1} \bigl[ c_j^\dagger c_{j+1} + c_{j+1}^\dagger c_j + \gamma \left( c_j^\dagger c_{j+1}^\dagger - c_jc_{j+1} \right) \bigr] - h \sum_{j=1}^{L} (1-2n_j).

At γ=0\gamma=0, the pairing vanishes and total fermion number is conserved. At γ≠0\gamma\ne0, only parity is conserved. At γ=1\gamma=1, the exchange is −J∑jXjXj+1-J\sum_jX_jX_{j+1}, the rotated transverse-field Ising chain.

The map makes the distinction between integrability and number conservation explicit. A quadratic Bogoliubov Hamiltonian can be exactly solvable even when it creates and annihilates fermion pairs.

Take J>0J>0 and h≥0h\ge0 and start from the convention used on the model page:

HTFIM=−J∑jσjzσj+1z−h∑jσjx.H_{\mathrm{TFIM}} = -J \sum_j \sigma_j^z\sigma_{j+1}^z - h \sum_j\sigma_j^x.

The σ\sigma symbols here denote the original physical axes. Rotate the spin coordinates by defining

Xj=σjz,Zj=σjx,Yj=−σjy.X_j = \sigma_j^z, \qquad Z_j = \sigma_j^x, \qquad Y_j = -\sigma_j^y.

These operators satisfy the same Pauli algebra, and

HTFIM=−J∑jXjXj+1−h∑jZj.H_{\mathrm{TFIM}} = -J \sum_jX_jX_{j+1} - h \sum_jZ_j.

For an open chain,

HO=−J∑j=1L−1(cj†−cj)(cj+1†+cj+1)−h∑j=1L(1−2nj).H_{\mathrm O} = {} -J \sum_{j=1}^{L-1} \left(c_j^\dagger-c_j\right) \left(c_{j+1}^\dagger+c_{j+1}\right) - h \sum_{j=1}^{L} (1-2n_j).

This is the γ=1\gamma=1 case of the expanded XY Hamiltonian above. The field contributes 2hN−hL2hN-hL, including the constant needed when comparing energies.

This is quadratic but not number conserving. Its exact symmetry is

P=(−1)N=∏jZj=∏jσjx.P = (-1)^N = \prod_jZ_j = \prod_j\sigma_j^x.

Thus the original global Ising spin flip becomes fermion parity.

Define two Majorana operators per site,

aj=cj+cj†,bj=i(cj†−cj).a_j = c_j+c_j^\dagger, \qquad b_j = i(c_j^\dagger-c_j).

They obey

aj†=aj,bj†=bj,a_j^\dagger=a_j, \qquad b_j^\dagger=b_j,

and

{ai,aj}={bi,bj}=2δij,{ai,bj}=0.\{a_i,a_j\} = \{b_i,b_j\} = 2\delta_{ij}, \qquad \{a_i,b_j\} = 0.

Since

Zj=−iajbj,Z_j = -ia_jb_j,

the open Hamiltonian becomes

HO=ih∑j=1Lajbj+iJ∑j=1L−1bjaj+1.H_{\mathrm O} = i h \sum_{j=1}^{L}a_jb_j + i J \sum_{j=1}^{L-1}b_ja_{j+1}.

The field couples the two Majoranas on the same site; exchange couples Majoranas across neighboring sites. At J=0J=0, every site is paired internally. At h=0h=0, a1a_1 and bLb_L are absent from the Hamiltonian. The Ising model explains their finite-size splitting; the Kitaev chain interprets the edge operators in a fermionic system.

For a periodic spin ring, first choose p=±1p=\pm1 and impose

cL+1=−pc1.c_{L+1} = -p c_1.

Then use

cj=1L∑keikjack,c_j = \frac1{\sqrt L} \sum_k e^{ikja}c_k,

with the momentum grid appropriate to pp. Pair kk with −k-k and introduce

Ψk=(ckc−k†).\Psi_k = \begin{pmatrix} c_k\\ c_{-k}^\dagger \end{pmatrix}.

Writing the paired part as 12∑kΨk†H(k)Ψk\frac12\sum_k\Psi_k^\dagger\mathcal H(k)\Psi_k plus its constant (or summing once over each k,−kk,-k pair), the Bogoliubov–de Gennes matrix is

H(k)=2[(h−Jcos⁡ka)τz+Jsin⁡(ka)τy].\mathcal H(k) = 2 \left[ (h-J\cos ka)\tau_z + J\sin(ka)\tau_y \right].

Its eigenvalues are ±ε(k)\pm\varepsilon(k), where

ε(k)=2(h−Jcos⁡ka)2+J2sin⁡2(ka)=2J1+g2−2gcos⁡(ka),\begin{aligned} \varepsilon(k) &= 2 \sqrt{ (h-J\cos ka)^2 + J^2\sin^2(ka) } \\ &= 2J \sqrt{ 1+g^2-2g\cos(ka) }, \end{aligned}

with

g=hJ.g = \frac hJ.

The Jordan–Wigner step produced a quadratic paired-fermion problem. Fourier and Bogoliubov transformations finish the diagonalization. The bulk gap and finite-size interpretation are developed in Transverse-Field Ising Model.

For the spin operators associated with the Pauli axes of this page, define

sjx=Xj2,sjy=Yj2,sjz=Zj2.s_j^x=\frac{X_j}{2}, \qquad s_j^y=\frac{Y_j}{2}, \qquad s_j^z=\frac{Z_j}{2}.

In the primary occupation convention,

sjz=12−nj.s_j^z = \frac12-n_j.

An open XXZ chain maps to

HXXZ=J2∑j=1L−1(cj†cj+1+cj+1†cj)+JΔ∑j=1L−1(nj−12)(nj+1−12)+h∑j=1L(nj−12).H_{\mathrm{XXZ}} = {} \frac J2 \sum_{j=1}^{L-1} \left( c_j^\dagger c_{j+1} + c_{j+1}^\dagger c_j \right) + J\Delta \sum_{j=1}^{L-1} \left(n_j-\frac12\right) \left(n_{j+1}-\frac12\right) + h \sum_{j=1}^{L} \left(n_j-\frac12\right).

After the spin-axis rotation used by the XXZ page, the final field term changes sign. The density interaction remains for Δ≠0\Delta\ne0, so Jordan–Wigner does not make the generic XXZ chain free. It changes a spin interaction into an interacting spinless-fermion Hamiltonian.

In qubit simulation, the direct encoding is

cj=12(∏ℓ<jZℓ)(Xj+iYj).c_j = \frac12 \left( \prod_{\ell<j}Z_\ell \right) (X_j+iY_j).

A hopping term between modes i<ji<j becomes Pauli strings with ZZ operators between the endpoints. Mode ordering therefore affects Pauli weight and circuit cost even though it does not change the target fermionic Hamiltonian.

For exact diagonalization, the same signs are often implemented directly in occupation bits:

qj=popcount⁡(occupied modes left of j),sign=(−1)qj.\begin{aligned} q_j &= \operatorname{popcount} (\text{occupied modes left of }j), \\ \text{sign} &= (-1)^{q_j}. \end{aligned}

These are two implementations of the same parity rule. The state ordering in the matrix must agree with the bit ordering; for example, the minus sign in c3∣101⟩=−∣100⟩c_3|101\rangle=-|100\rangle tests more than the local empty/occupied rule.

List the dimensionless momenta kaka for an eight-site ring in the even- and odd-parity sectors. Which sector contains self-inverse modes?

Solution

Even fermion parity uses antiperiodic boundaries:

ka=(2m+1)π8,m=0,1,…,7.ka = \frac{(2m+1)\pi}{8}, \qquad m=0,1,\ldots,7.

Equivalently, representatives in (−π,π](-\pi,\pi] are

ka∈{±π8,±3π8,±5π8,±7π8}.ka \in \left\{ \pm\frac\pi8, \pm\frac{3\pi}{8}, \pm\frac{5\pi}{8}, \pm\frac{7\pi}{8} \right\}.

Odd parity uses periodic boundaries:

ka=2πm8.ka = \frac{2\pi m}{8}.

Representatives are

ka∈{0,±π4,±π2,±3π4,π}.ka \in \left\{ 0, \pm\frac\pi4, \pm\frac\pi2, \pm\frac{3\pi}{4}, \pi \right\}.

The periodic sector contains the self-inverse modes 00 and π\pi.

Order a 3×33\times3 square lattice row by row. Compare the Jordan–Wigner string length for a horizontal nearest-neighbor bond and a vertical nearest-neighbor bond.

Solution

Horizontal neighbors inside one row are consecutive in the ordering. Their common parity strings cancel, leaving a bounded local fermion operator.

Vertical neighbors in adjacent rows differ by three positions in the row-major order. Their transformed bilinear retains parity factors for the modes lying between them. On a square lattice of width WW, a vertical bond generally spans order WW modes.

The map remains exact, but the Pauli or fermion representation of a geometrically local vertical bond becomes increasingly nonlocal as the width grows. A different snake ordering moves which bonds are long; it cannot make every two-dimensional nearest-neighbor bond consecutive simultaneously.

For a five-site periodic spin ring, identify the self-inverse momentum in each parity sector. Why does the even-length rule fail?

Solution

The odd-parity periodic grid is ka=2πm/5ka=2\pi m/5 and contains 00, but not π\pi. The even-parity antiperiodic grid is ka=(2m+1)π/5ka=(2m+1)\pi/5 and contains π\pi at m=2m=2, but not 00. Each grid has an odd number of modes, so one mode remains after all distinct k,−kk,-k pairs are formed.

For a single unpaired mode with H=ξ(c†c−12)H=\xi(c^\dagger c-\tfrac12) and ξ<0\xi<0, define a positive-energy quasiparticle annihilator. What is its vacuum parity?

Solution

Choose γ=c†\gamma=c^\dagger. Then

H=∣ξ∣(γ†γ−12).H=|\xi|(\gamma^\dagger\gamma-\tfrac12).

Its vacuum obeys c†∣vacγ⟩=0c^\dagger|\mathrm{vac}_\gamma\rangle=0 and is the occupied original mode ∣1⟩|1\rangle. It has odd original parity despite zero quasiparticles. This is why counting quasiparticles alone cannot enforce the spin-ring parity constraint.