Analytical contradictions of the 'fixed - node' density matrices

Abstract: Over the last decades the 'fixed-node method' has been used for a numerical treatment of thermodynamic properties of strongly correlated Fermi systems. In this work correctness of the 'fixed -node method' for ideal Fermi systems has been analytically analyzed. It is shown that the 'fixed-node' prescription of calculation of the density matrix leads to contradictions even for two ideal fermions. The main conclusion of this work is that the 'fixed-node method' can not reproduce the fermion density matrices and should be considered as uncontrolled empirical approach in treatment of thermodynamics of Fermi systems.