The low-lying eigenvalues of a (sparse) hermitian matrix can be computed with controlled numerical errors by a conjugate gradient (CG) method. This CG algorithm is accelerated by alternating it with exact diagonalizations in the subspace spanned by the numerically computed eigenvectors. We study this combined algorithm in case of the Dirac operator with (dynamical) Wilson fermions in four-dimensional SU(2) gauge elds. The algorithm is numerically very stable and can be parallelized in an e cient way. On lattices of sizes 4 4 16 4 an acceleration of the pure CG method by a factor of 4 8 is found.

We discuss blockspins for staggered fermions, i. e. averaging and interpolation procedures which are needed in a real space renormalization group approach to gauge theories with staggered fermions and in a multigrid approach to the computation of gauge covariant propagators. The discussion starts from the requirement that the symmetries of the free action should be preserved by the blocking procedure in the limit of a pure gauge. A definition of an averaging kernel as a solution of a gauge covariant eigenvalue equation is proposed, and the properties of a corresponding interpolation kernel are examined in the light of general criteria for good choices of blockspins. Some results of multigrid computations of bosonic propagators in an SU(2) gauge field in 4 dimensions are also presented.

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Multigrid methods were invented for the solution of discretized partial differential equations in order to overcome the slowness of traditional algorithms by updates on various length scales. In the present work generalizations of multigrid methods for propagators in gauge fields are investigated. Gauge fields are incorporated in algorithms in a covariant way. The kernel C of the restriction operator which averages from one grid to the next coarser grid is defined by projection on the ground-state of a local Hamiltonian. The idea behind this definition is that the appropriate notion of smoothness depends on the dynamics. The ground-state projection choice of C can be used in arbitrary dimension and for arbitrary gauge group. We discuss proper averaging operations for bosons and for staggered fermions. The kernels C can also be used in multigrid Monte Carlo simulations, and for the definition of block spins and blocked gauge fields in Monte Carlo renormalization group studies. Actual numerical computations are performed in four-dimensional SU(2) gauge fields. We prove that our proposals for block spins are “good”, using renormalization group arguments. A central result is that the multigrid method works in arbitrarily disordered gauge fields, in principle. It is proved that computations of propagators in gauge fields without critical slowing down are possible when one uses an ideal interpolation kernel. Unfortunately, the idealized algorithm is not practical, but it was important to answer questions of principle. Practical methods are able to outperform the conjugate gradient algorithm in case of bosons. The case of staggered fermions is harder. Multigrid methods give considerable speed-ups compared to conventional relaxation algorithms, but on lattices up to 184 conjugate gradient is superior.

Complete spectra of the staggered Dirac operator P ) are determined in quenched four-dimensional SU(2) gauge fields, and also in the presence of dynamical fermions. Periodic as well as antiperiodic boundary conditions are used. An attempt is made to relate the performance of multigrid (MG) and conjugate gradient (CG) algorithms for propagators with the distribution of the eigenvalues of P). The convergence of the CG algorithm is determined only by the condition number K and by the lattice size. Since K'S do not vary significantly when quarks become dynamic, CG convergence in unquenched fields can be predicted from quenched simulations. On the other hand, MG convergence is not affected by K but depends on the spectrum in a more subtle way.