$T\bar T$-deformation and long range spin chains

Abstract: We point out that two classes of deformations of integrable models, developed completely independently, have deep connections and share the same algebraic origin. One class includes the $T\bar T$-deformation of 1+1 dimensional integrable quantum field theory and related solvable irrelevant deformations proposed recently. The other class is a specific type of long range integrable deformation of quantum spin chains introduced a decade ago, in the context of $\mathcal{N} = 4$ super-Yang-Mills theory. We show that the detailed structures of the two deformations are formally identical and therefore share many features. Both deformations preserve integrability and lead to non-local deformed theories, resulting in a change of the corresponding factorized S-matrices. We also prove a factorisation formula for the expectation value of the operators which trigger the deformation on the lattice; similar results in quantum field theory play an essential role in the solvability of such deformations. We point out that the long range deformation is a natural counterpart of the $T\bar T$-deformation for integrable spin chains, and argue that this observation leads to interesting new avenues to explore.