Deriving local order parameters from tensor network representations

Abstract

A large class of quantum phase transitions for quantum lattice systems are characterized by local order parameters. It is shown that local order parameters may be systematically constructed from tensor network representations of quantum many-body ground state wave functions by investigating the reduced density matrices for local areas on an infinite-size lattice. Depending on whether or not the system symmetries are spontaneously broken, and whether or not the ground state fidelity per lattice site is continuous, there are four categories of quantum phase transitions for systems with local order parameters. Quantum phase transitions characterized by nonlocal order parameters are discussed, aiming at better understanding quantum systems with topological order.