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Updated: Feb 26, 2026
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Published on: August 2, 2019
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Entanglement and thermodynamics after a quantum quench in integrable systems
Vincenzo Alba1, Pasquale Calabrese2
1International School for Advanced Studies, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Trieste, 34136 Trieste, Italy valba@sissa.it.
Summary
Researchers reveal how quantum entanglement dynamics explain thermodynamic entropy in isolated systems. This breakthrough allows exact entanglement calculations for interacting systems, previously considered impossible.
Area of Science:
- Quantum mechanics
- Statistical mechanics
- Condensed matter physics
Background:
- Entanglement and entropy are fundamental concepts in quantum and statistical mechanics.
- Quantum quenches link entanglement and entropy, showing accumulated entanglement generates thermodynamic entropy in isolated systems.
- Understanding entanglement evolution is key to explaining thermodynamics in isolated systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for calculating entanglement dynamics in interacting quantum systems.
- To demonstrate how entanglement evolution leads to emergent thermodynamics.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing the quasiparticle picture of entanglement evolution.
- Incorporating integrability-based knowledge of steady states and excitations.
- Analyzing entanglement dynamics in the space-time scaling limit.
Main Results:
- A complete understanding of entanglement dynamics is achieved for interacting systems.
- The method accurately describes entanglement evolution, bridging quantum dynamics and thermodynamics.
- The approach is validated using the Heisenberg chain model.
Conclusions:
- The quasiparticle picture and integrability provide a feasible method for calculating entanglement dynamics in interacting systems.
- This work clarifies the emergence of thermodynamics from quantum entanglement in isolated systems.
- The findings open new avenues for studying quantum many-body systems.
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