Quantum spin chain with 'soliton non-preserving' boundary conditions

We consider the case of an integrable quantum spin chain with 'soliton non-preserving' boundary conditions. This is the first time that such boundary conditions have been considered in the spin chain framework. We construct the transfer matrix of the model, we study its symmetry and we find explicit expressions for its eigenvalues. Moreover, we derive a new set of Bethe ansatz equations by means of the analytical Bethe ansatz method. (author)