Heisenberg coupling matrix for two spins

ID: heisenberg-coupling-matrix-for-two-spins

For two spin one-half systems, the dimensionless isotropic Heisenberg model coupling is , where are Pauli matrices. In the ordered computational basis ,
where is the SWAP gate. This follows by acting on each basis state: the terms exchange the two opposite-spin states with coefficient two and annihilate the parallel-spin states. The symmetric three-dimensional sector has eigenvalue and the antisymmetric sector has eigenvalue . Hence
This identity explains how isotropic exchange interaction generates a SWAP gate at up to a global phase.

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