Using lattice methods in non-canonical quantum statistics

Abstract

We define a natural coarse-graining procedure which can be applied to any closed equilibrium quantum system described by a density matrix ensemble and we show how the coarse-graining leads to the Gaussian and canonical ensembles. After this motivation, we present two ways of evaluating the Gaussian expectation values with lattice simulations. The first one is computationally demanding but general, whereas the second employs only canonical expectation values but it is applicable only for systems which are almost thermodynamical.