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Main Authors: Shi, Huan-Chen, Cui, Er-Liang, Zhou, Dan
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.17490
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author Shi, Huan-Chen
Cui, Er-Liang
Zhou, Dan
author_facet Shi, Huan-Chen
Cui, Er-Liang
Zhou, Dan
contents The optimization of neural wave functions in variational Monte Carlo crucially relies on a robust convergence criterion. While the energy variance is theoretically a definitive measure, its practical application as a primary convergence criterion has been underexplored. In this work, we develop a lightweight, general-purpose solver that utilizes the energy variance as a convergence criterion. We apply it to several systems-including the harmonic oscillator, hydrogen atom, and charmonium hadron-for validating the variance as a reliable diagnostic, and using a empirical threshold $10^{-3}$ as the energy variance convergence values for performing rapid parameter scans to enable preliminary physical verification. To clarify the scope of our approach, we derive an inequality that delineates the limitations of variance-based optimization in nodal systems. Despite these limitations, the energy variance proves to be a highly valuable tool, guiding our solver to efficient and reliable results across a range of quantum problems.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_17490
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A Variance-Based Convergence Criterion in Neural Variational Monte Carlo for Quantum Systems
Shi, Huan-Chen
Cui, Er-Liang
Zhou, Dan
Quantum Physics
Computational Physics
The optimization of neural wave functions in variational Monte Carlo crucially relies on a robust convergence criterion. While the energy variance is theoretically a definitive measure, its practical application as a primary convergence criterion has been underexplored. In this work, we develop a lightweight, general-purpose solver that utilizes the energy variance as a convergence criterion. We apply it to several systems-including the harmonic oscillator, hydrogen atom, and charmonium hadron-for validating the variance as a reliable diagnostic, and using a empirical threshold $10^{-3}$ as the energy variance convergence values for performing rapid parameter scans to enable preliminary physical verification. To clarify the scope of our approach, we derive an inequality that delineates the limitations of variance-based optimization in nodal systems. Despite these limitations, the energy variance proves to be a highly valuable tool, guiding our solver to efficient and reliable results across a range of quantum problems.
title A Variance-Based Convergence Criterion in Neural Variational Monte Carlo for Quantum Systems
topic Quantum Physics
Computational Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.17490