The simplest model is the spin-1/2 chain with Majumdar–Ghosh interaction:
$$H=\sum_i P_{3/2}(i-1,i,i+1),$$
where $P_{3/2}(i,j,k)$ is the projection operator that projects a state onto the subspace with total spin-3/2 on sites $i,j,k$. The ground states are two dimer states (see the figure on wikipedia Majumdar–Ghosh model):
$$|\psi_1\rangle=\prod_i|\mathrm{singlet}\rangle_{2i,2i+1},$$
$$|\psi_2\rangle=\prod_i|\mathrm{singlet}\rangle_{2i-1,2i}.$$
If we define the symmetry transformation $U(i,j)=\exp(ia_{ij}P_0(i,j))$ where $P_0(i,j)$ is the singlet projection operator, then $$U(2i,2i+1)|\psi_1\rangle=\exp(i a_{2i,2i+1})|\psi_1\rangle,$$
$$U(2i-1,2i)|\psi_2\rangle=\exp(i a_{2i-1,2i})|\psi_2\rangle,$$
for any $i$. In other words, $|\psi_1\rangle$ supports a one dimensional representation of the group $U(2i,2i+1)$ (any $i$) which is not a symmetry of the original Hamiltonian. Similar for $|\psi_2\rangle$. It is exactly those emergent symmetries that make this model soluble.
More sophisticated examples can be found here: 0207106.
This post imported from StackExchange Physics at 2014-03-09 08:46 (UCT), posted by SE-user Tengen