Unsupervised machine learning of quenched gauge symmetries: A proof-of-concept demonstration

One of the most prominent tasks of machine learning (ML) methods within the field of condensed matter physics has been to classify phases of matter. Given their many successes in performing this task, one may ask whether these methods—particularly unsupervised ones—can go beyond learning the thermod...

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Main Authors: Daniel Lozano-Gómez, Darren Pereira, Michel J. P. Gingras
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2022-11-01
Series:Physical Review Research
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.043118
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author Daniel Lozano-Gómez
Darren Pereira
Michel J. P. Gingras
author_facet Daniel Lozano-Gómez
Darren Pereira
Michel J. P. Gingras
author_sort Daniel Lozano-Gómez
collection DOAJ
description One of the most prominent tasks of machine learning (ML) methods within the field of condensed matter physics has been to classify phases of matter. Given their many successes in performing this task, one may ask whether these methods—particularly unsupervised ones—can go beyond learning the thermodynamic behavior of a system. This question is especially intriguing when considering systems that have a “hidden order”. In this work we study two random spin systems with a hidden ferromagnetic order that can be exposed by applying a Mattis gauge transformation. We demonstrate that the principal component analysis, perhaps the simplest unsupervised ML method, can detect the hidden order, quantify the corresponding gauge variables, and map the original random models onto simpler gauge-transformed ferromagnetic ones, all without any prior knowledge of the underlying gauge transformation. Our work illustrates that ML algorithms can in principle identify not manifestly obvious symmetries of a system.
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spelling doaj.art-65e483fd4bdf4cc48bee57b2d0d01d6e2024-04-12T17:26:17ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642022-11-014404311810.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.043118Unsupervised machine learning of quenched gauge symmetries: A proof-of-concept demonstrationDaniel Lozano-GómezDarren PereiraMichel J. P. GingrasOne of the most prominent tasks of machine learning (ML) methods within the field of condensed matter physics has been to classify phases of matter. Given their many successes in performing this task, one may ask whether these methods—particularly unsupervised ones—can go beyond learning the thermodynamic behavior of a system. This question is especially intriguing when considering systems that have a “hidden order”. In this work we study two random spin systems with a hidden ferromagnetic order that can be exposed by applying a Mattis gauge transformation. We demonstrate that the principal component analysis, perhaps the simplest unsupervised ML method, can detect the hidden order, quantify the corresponding gauge variables, and map the original random models onto simpler gauge-transformed ferromagnetic ones, all without any prior knowledge of the underlying gauge transformation. Our work illustrates that ML algorithms can in principle identify not manifestly obvious symmetries of a system.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.043118
spellingShingle Daniel Lozano-Gómez
Darren Pereira
Michel J. P. Gingras
Unsupervised machine learning of quenched gauge symmetries: A proof-of-concept demonstration
Physical Review Research
title Unsupervised machine learning of quenched gauge symmetries: A proof-of-concept demonstration
title_full Unsupervised machine learning of quenched gauge symmetries: A proof-of-concept demonstration
title_fullStr Unsupervised machine learning of quenched gauge symmetries: A proof-of-concept demonstration
title_full_unstemmed Unsupervised machine learning of quenched gauge symmetries: A proof-of-concept demonstration
title_short Unsupervised machine learning of quenched gauge symmetries: A proof-of-concept demonstration
title_sort unsupervised machine learning of quenched gauge symmetries a proof of concept demonstration
url http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.043118
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