Learning what a machine learns in a many-body localization transition

We employ a convolutional neural network to explore the distinct phases in random spin systems with the aim to understand the specific features that the neural network chooses to identify the phases. With the energy spectrum normalized to the bandwidth as the input data, we demonstrate that a network of the smallest nontrivial kernel width selects level spacing as the signature to distinguish the many-body localized phase from the thermal phase. We also study the performance of the neural network with an increased kernel width, based on which we find an alternative diagnostic to detect phases from the raw energy spectrum of such a disordered interacting system. (paper)