Representing the time-evolution operator as a tensor network constitutes a key ingredient in several algorithms for studying quantum lattice systems at finite temperature or in a nonequilibrium setting. For a Hamiltonian composed of strictly short-range interactions, the Suzuki-Trotter decomposition is the main technique for obtaining such a representation. Vanhecke et al. [Phys. Rev. A 103, L020402 (2021)] introduced an alternative strategy—the cluster expansion. This approach naturally preserves internal and lattice symmetries and can more easily be extended to higher-order representations or longer-range interactions. We extend the cluster expansion to two-dimensional fermionic systems and employ it to construct projected entangled-pair operator (PEPO) approximations of Gibbs states. We also discuss and benchmark different truncation schemes for multiplying layers of PEPOs together. Applying the resulting framework to a two-dimensional spinless fermion model with attractive interactions, we resolve a clear phase boundary at finite temperature.

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• Fermions
• Strongly correlated systems
• Tensor network methods