On the choice of the density matrix in the stochastic TMRG

Abstract

In applications of the density matrix renormalization group to nonhermitean problems, the choice of the density matrix is not uniquely prescribed by the algorithm. We demonstrate that for the recently introduced stochastic transfer matrix DMRG (stochastic TMRG) the necessity to use open boundary conditions makes asymmetrical reduced density matrices, as used for renormalization in quantum TMRG, an inappropriate choice. An explicit construction of the largest left and right eigenvectors of the full transfer matrix allows us to show why symmetrical density matrices are the correct physical choice.