Alternative method of calculating the eigenvalues of the transfer matrix of the τ2 model for N = 2

It has been shown that the τ₂ (Baxter-Bazhanov-Stroganov) model for N = 2 with arbitrary parameters is a particular case of the generalized Ising model. The model satisfies the free-fermion condition, which enables one to solve it by the method of the auxiliary Grassmann field. Explicit expressions have been derived for the partition function on a finite-size lattice and eigenvalues of the transfer matrix. In this approach, in contrast to the functional relation method, there is no problem with the multiplicities of the eigenvalues of transfer matrix.