We compute the ground-state correlation functions of an exactly solvable chain of integer spins, recently introduced in [R. Movassagh and P. W. Shor, arXiv:1408.1657], whose ground state can be expressed in terms of a uniform superposition of all colored Motzkin paths. Our analytical results show that for spin s > 2 there is a violation of the cluster decomposition property. This has to be contrasted with s = 1, where the cluster property holds. Correspondingly, for s = 1 one gets a light-cone profile in the propagation of excitations after a local quench, while the cone is absent for s = 2, as shown by time dependent density-matrix renormalization group. Moreover, we introduce an original solvable model of half-integer spins, which we refer to as Fredkin spin chain, whose ground state can be expressed in terms of superposition of all Dyck paths. For this model we exactly calculate the magnetization and correlation functions, finding that for s = 1/2, a conelike propagation occurs, while for higher spins, s = 3/2 or greater, the colors prevent any cone formation and clustering is violated, together with square root deviation from the area law for the entanglement entropy

We introduce a new spin chain which is a deformation of the Fredkin spin chain and has a phase transition between bounded and extensive entanglement entropy scaling. In this chain, spins have a local interaction of three nearest neighbors. The Hamiltonian is frustration-free and its ground state can be described analytically as a weighted superposition of Dyck paths. In the purely spin 1/2 case, the entanglement entropy obeys an area law: it is bounded from above by a constant, when the size of the block n increases (and t > 1). When a local color degree of freedom is introduced the entanglement entropy increases linearly with the size of the block (and t > 1). The entanglement entropy of half of the chain is tightly bounded by n log s where n is the size of the block, and s is the number of colors.Our chain fosters a new example for a significant boost to entropy and for the existence of the associated critical rainbow phase where the entanglement entropy scales with volume that has recently been discovered in Zhang et al. [1].

We introduce a new model of interacting spin 1/2. It describes interaction of three nearest neighbors. The Hamiltonian can be expressed in terms of Fredkin gates. The Fredkin gate (also known as the CSWAP gate) is a computational circuit suitable for reversible computing. Our construction generalizes the work [4]. Our model can be solved by means of Catalan combinatorics in the form of random walks on upper half of a square lattice [Dyck walks]. Each Dyck path can be mapped on a wave function of spins. The ground state is an equally weighted superposition of Dyck walks [instead of Motzkin walks]. We can also express it as a matrix product state. We further construct the model of interacting spins 3/2 and greater half-integer spins. The models with higher spins require coloring of Dyck walks. We construct SU(k) symmetric model [here k is the number of colors]. The leading term of the entanglement entropy is then proportional to the square root of the length of the lattice [like in Shor-Movassagh model]. The gap closes as a high power of the length of the lattice.

We introduce a new model of interacting spin 1/2. It describes interactions of three nearest neighbors. The Hamiltonian can be expressed in terms of Fredkin gates. The Fredkin gate (also known as the controlled swap gate) is a computational circuit suitable for reversible computing. Our construction generalizes the model presented by Peter Shor and Ramis Movassagh to half-integer spins. Our model can be solved by means of Catalan combinatorics in the form of random walks on the upper half plane of a square lattice (Dyck walks). Each Dyck path can be mapped on a wave function of spins. The ground state is an equally weighted superposition of Dyck walks (instead of Motzkin walks). We can also express it as a matrix product state. We further construct a model of interacting spins 3/2 and greater half-integer spins. The models with higher spins require coloring of Dyck walks. We construct a [Formula: see text] symmetric model (where [Formula: see text] is the number of colors). The leading term of the entanglement entropy is then proportional to the square root of the length of the lattice (like in the Shor–Movassagh model). The gap closes as a high power of the length of the lattice [5, 11].

The ground state of the Shor–Movassagh chain can be analytically described by the Motzkin paths. There is no analytical description of the excited states. The model is not solvable. We prove the integrability of the model without interacting part in this paper (free Shor–Movassagh). The Lax pair for the free Shor–Movassagh open chain is explicitly constructed. We further obtain the boundary K-matrices compatible with the integrability of the model on the open interval. Our construction provides a direct demonstration for the quantum integrability of the model, described by the Yang–Baxter algebra. Because the partial transpose of the R matrix is not invertible, the model does not have crossing unitarity and the integrable open chain cannot be constructed by the reflection equation (boundary Yang–Baxter equation).