We derive a fourth-order diffusion Monte Carlo algorithm for solving quantum many-body problems. The method uses a factorization of the imaginary time propagator in terms of the usual local energy E and Langevin operators L as well as an additional pseudo-potential consisting of the double commutator [EL, [L, EL]]. A new factorization of the propagator of the Fokker-Planck equation enables us to implement the Langevin algorithm to the necessary fourth order. We achieve this by the addition of correction terms to the drift steps and the use of a position-dependent Gaussian random walk. We show that in the case of bulk liquid helium the systematic step size errors are indeed fourth order over a wide range of step sizes.
Systematic reduction of sign errors in many-body problems: Generalization of self-healing diffusion Monte Carlo to excited states