The AKLT model on a hexagonal chain is gapped (Q2283162)

The AKLT model has been introduced to obtain rigorous results on valence-bond ground states in antiferromagnets [\textit{I. Affleck} et al., ``Valence bond ground states in isotropic quantum antiferromagnets'', Commun. Math. Phys. 115, 477--528 (1988; \url{doi:10.1007/BF01218021})]. The existence of the spectral gap has been proved for the AKLT spin chain. AKLT also defined models on arbitrary \(k\)-regular graphs with local spin \(k/2\). In the present paper, the original AKLT model, i.e., a spin \(3/2\) antiferromagnet is considered on a chain of hexagons. The main result is that the pertinent Hamiltonian on an infinite hexagonal lattice is gapped. The existence of an explicit numerical constant is established for finite subsystems. This constant bounds the gap of the hexagonal chain from below, independently of the length of the chain. The demonstration relies on verifying the tailor-made finite-size criterion [\textit{S. Knabe}, J. Stat. Phys. 52, No. 3--4, 627--638 (1988; Zbl 1084.82511)], by an explicit computer-assisted calculation. Generalizations of the method are discussed to tackle still open problem of the spectral gap existence for the two-dimensional AKLT model on a hexagonal lattice.