Complex Langevin equation and the many-fermion problem

We study the utility of a complex Langevin (CL) equation as an alternative for the Monte Carlo (MC) procedure in the evaluation of expectation values occurring in fermionic many-body problems. We find that a CL approach is natural in cases where nonpositive definite probability measures occur, and remains accurate even when the corresponding MC calculation develops a severe ''sign problem.'' While the convergence of CL averages cannot be guaranteed in principle, we show how convergent results can be obtained in two simple quantum mechanical models, as well as a nontrivial schematic shell model path integral with multiple particles and a noncommuting interaction (the Lipkin model).