The density matrix renormalization group for a quantum spin chain at non-zero temperature

We apply a recent adaptation of White's density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) method to a simple quantum spin model, the dimerized XY chain, in order to assess the applicability of the DMRG to quantum systems at non-zero temperature. We find that very reasonable results can be obtained for the thermodynamic functions down to low temperatures using a very small basis set. Low-temperature results are found to be most accurate in the case when there is a substantial energy gap.