A modified version of the phase-difference model is introduced and dia
gonalized by means of the algebraic Bethe ansatz. The spectrum is dete
rmined for both small and large values of the coupling constant, and t
he low-lying excitations are shown to exhibit a conformal profile, App
lications of the model to quantum optics and growth problems are brief
ly discussed. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.