TensorKit.jl

A Julia package for large-scale tensor computations, with a hint of category theory.

Package summary

TensorKit.jl aims to be a generic package for working with tensors as they appear throughout the physical sciences. TensorKit implements a parametric type Tensor (which is actually a specific case of the type TensorMap) and defines for these types a number of vector space operations (scalar multiplication, addition, norms and inner products), index operations (permutations) and linear algebra operations (multiplication, factorizations). Finally, tensor contractions can be performed using the @tensor macro from TensorOperations.jl.

Currently, most effort is oriented towards tensors as they appear in the context of quantum many-body physics and in particular the field of tensor networks. Such tensors often have large dimensions and take on a specific structure when symmetries are present. By employing concepts from category theory, we can represent and manipulate tensors with a large variety of symmetries, including abelian and non-abelian symmetries, fermionic statistics, as well as generalized (a.k.a. non-invertible or anyonic) symmetries.

At the same time, TensorKit.jl focusses on computational efficiency and performance. The underlying storage of a tensor's data can be any DenseArray. When the data is stored in main memory (corresponding to Array), multiple CPUs can be leveraged as many operations come with multithreaded implementations, either by distributing the different blocks in case of a structured tensor (i.e. with symmetries) or by using multithreading provided by the package Strided.jl. Support for storing and manipulating tensors on NVidia and AMD GPUs is currently being developed, whereas support for distributed arrays is planned for the future.

Contents of the manual

Library outline

Appendix