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Entanglement tsunami: universal scaling in holographic thermalization
1Center for Theoretical Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|February 4, 2014
Summary
Entanglement entropy grows in holographic systems after a global quench, exhibiting distinct phases controlled by black hole geometry. This suggests an "entanglement tsunami" phenomenon, with a conjecture on maximal entanglement growth rates.
Area of Science:
- Quantum Information Theory
- High-Energy Physics
- Condensed Matter Physics
Background:
- Understanding quantum entanglement dynamics is crucial for describing complex quantum systems.
- Holographic duality provides a powerful framework to study strongly coupled quantum phenomena using gravity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the time evolution of entanglement entropy in a strongly coupled holographic system after a global quench.
- To explore the connection between entanglement growth and black hole formation in the gravitational dual.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a holographic model where system equilibration is described by black hole formation from matter collapse.
- Analyzing the geometry of the event horizon to understand entanglement entropy evolution.
- Identifying distinct temporal regimes of entanglement growth.
Main Results:
- Observed quadratic growth pre-equilibration and linear growth post-equilibration of entanglement entropy.
- Identified late-time and saturation regimes independent of the entangled region's characteristics.
- Proposed an "entanglement tsunami" model for inward entanglement propagation.
Conclusions:
- The geometry of the black hole event horizon dictates entanglement entropy evolution.
- Entanglement growth exhibits critical behavior analogous to continuous phase transitions.
- Conjectured a universal maximal rate for entanglement growth in relativistic systems.
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