The generalized thimble method to treat field theories with sign problems requires repeatedly solving the computationally expensive holomorphic flow equations. We present a machine learning technique to bypass this problem. The central idea is to obtain a few field configurations via the flow equations to train a feed-forward neural network. The trained network defines a new manifold of integration which reduces the sign problem and can be rapidly sampled. We present results for the $1+1$ dimensional Thirring model with Wilson fermions on sizable lattices. In addition to the gain in speed, the parametrization of the integration manifold we use avoids the “trapping” of Monte Carlo chains which plagues large-flow calculations, a considerable shortcoming of the previous attempts.

• Received 19 September 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.96.094505