Abstract:
In this paper we show that an operator introduced by A. A. Tsvetkov enjoys all the needed properties of $Q$-operator. It is shown that the $Q$-operator of the $XXX$ spin chain with spin $\ell$ turns into Tsvetkov's operator in the continuous limit when $\ell \rightarrow \infty$.
Key words and phrases:integrable models of quantum field theory, quantum NLS model, Baxter's $Q$-operator, XXX spin chain, functional methods.