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Entanglement Asymmetry: A Quantum Information Theory Approach to Symmetry Breaking in Conformal Field Theories and Holography


Core Concepts
This research explores entanglement asymmetry, a novel measure of symmetry breaking in quantum subsystems, within the context of conformal field theories (CFTs) and its holographic implications.
Abstract
  • Bibliographic Information: Benini, F., Godet, V., & Singh, A. H. (2024). Entanglement asymmetry in conformal field theory and holography. arXiv preprint arXiv:2407.07969v2.

  • Research Objective: This paper aims to calculate and analyze the entanglement asymmetry of specific excited states ("coherent states") in conformal field theories (CFTs) with a U(1) symmetry, utilizing Euclidean path-integral methods and the replica formalism. The authors further investigate its holographic dual within the framework of AdS/CFT correspondence.

  • Methodology: The authors employ a perturbative approach, expanding the entanglement asymmetry in a small parameter (λ) that characterizes the degree of symmetry breaking. They utilize three distinct methods to compute the leading-order contribution:

    1. Calculation of Renyi asymmetries using the replica method and taking the limit as the replica index approaches 1.
    2. Exploitation of an integral representation for the leading perturbative contribution to relative entropy, also known as Fisher information.
    3. Computation of Renyi asymmetries in terms of correlation functions involving twist operators.
  • Key Findings:

    • The authors derive a "universal expression" for the entanglement asymmetry at leading order in perturbation theory, applicable to arbitrary dimensions.
    • They demonstrate that both Renyi and entanglement asymmetries behave as two-point functions, enabling the use of conformal transformations to determine the asymmetry in various geometries.
    • The study reveals that the entanglement asymmetry of a subsystem decreases over time, indicating dynamical restoration of symmetry due to thermalization.
    • Notably, the research uncovers the presence of a universal quantum Mpemba effect, where systems farther from equilibrium exhibit faster relaxation.
    • In the context of AdS/CFT, the authors propose that the holographic dual of entanglement asymmetry at leading order is related to the Fisher information metric, which has a known holographic counterpart called Hollands-Wald canonical energy.
  • Main Conclusions: The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of entanglement asymmetry in CFTs, offering insights into symmetry breaking in quantum field theories and its holographic interpretation. The findings have significant implications for understanding the dynamics of quantum systems, particularly in out-of-equilibrium scenarios.

  • Significance: This research significantly contributes to the fields of quantum information theory, conformal field theory, and holography. It introduces a novel measure for quantifying symmetry breaking and provides valuable insights into the behavior of quantum systems, particularly in the context of thermalization and the Mpemba effect.

  • Limitations and Future Research: The study primarily focuses on the leading-order perturbative contribution to entanglement asymmetry. Further research could explore higher-order corrections and their holographic interpretations. Additionally, investigating the implications of the observed quantum Mpemba effect in more complex systems and experimental settings would be of considerable interest.

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Key Insights Distilled From

by Francesco Be... at arxiv.org 10-07-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2407.07969.pdf
Entanglement asymmetry in conformal field theory and holography

Deeper Inquiries

How does the concept of entanglement asymmetry extend to quantum field theories with more complex symmetry groups beyond U(1)?

The concept of entanglement asymmetry, fundamentally rooted in comparing a subsystem's density matrix with its symmetry-projected counterpart, can be naturally extended beyond U(1) symmetries to encompass more complex symmetry groups, including discrete, continuous, Abelian, and non-Abelian groups. This generalization hinges on appropriately defining the symmetry projection operation for the specific group in question. For a general group G, the projection operator, denoted as $\mathcal{P}_G[\rho]$, acting on the reduced density matrix $\rho$, averages over the group action. This averaging process effectively eliminates off-diagonal elements of $\rho$ that correspond to different irreducible representations of G within the subsystem. Let's delve into specific cases: Discrete Groups: For a finite group G, the projection operator takes the form: $$\mathcal{P}G[\rho] = \frac{1}{|G|} \sum{g \in G} U(g) \rho U^\dagger(g),$$ where $|G|$ represents the order of the group, and $U(g)$ denotes the unitary operator representing the action of group element $g$ on the Hilbert space. Lie Groups: For Lie groups like SU(2) or SU(3), the summation is replaced by an integral over the group manifold with respect to the Haar measure. For instance, for SU(2): $$\mathcal{P}{SU(2)}[\rho] = \int{SU(2)} d\mu(g) U(g) \rho U^\dagger(g),$$ where $d\mu(g)$ is the Haar measure on SU(2). Once the projected density matrix $\rho_G = \mathcal{P}_G[\rho]$ is obtained, the entanglement asymmetry, representing the symmetry breaking, is calculated as the relative entropy between $\rho$ and $\rho_G$: $$\Delta S_G = S(\rho || \rho_G) = Tr(\rho \log \rho) - Tr(\rho \log \rho_G).$$ This generalized definition of entanglement asymmetry provides a powerful tool to investigate symmetry breaking in quantum field theories with diverse symmetry groups. It allows us to quantify how much a given subsystem's entanglement structure breaks the global symmetry of the system, offering insights into the nature of quantum correlations and their interplay with symmetry.

Could the observed quantum Mpemba effect in CFTs be experimentally verified in real-world systems, and if so, what would be the potential technological implications?

While the quantum Mpemba effect has been observed in systems like spin chains and is theoretically predicted in CFTs, its experimental verification in real-world systems, particularly those accurately described by CFTs, presents significant challenges. Challenges: Complexity of CFT Realizations: Finding real-world systems that precisely embody the properties of CFTs, especially in controlled experimental settings, is difficult. CFTs are often highly idealized theoretical models. Precise State Preparation and Measurement: The Mpemba effect relies on preparing specific initial states (coherent states in the CFT case) and precisely measuring their relaxation dynamics, which can be experimentally demanding. Decohrence: Real-world systems are susceptible to decoherence, which can disrupt the delicate quantum correlations crucial for the Mpemba effect. Potential Systems for Experimental Exploration: Despite these challenges, certain experimental platforms hold promise for investigating the quantum Mpemba effect in systems exhibiting CFT-like behavior: Ultracold Atoms in Optical Lattices: These systems offer a high degree of control and tunability, potentially allowing the simulation of CFTs and the study of their non-equilibrium dynamics. Trapped Ions: Similar to ultracold atoms, trapped ions provide a platform for quantum simulation with precise control over individual ions. Technological Implications: If experimentally confirmed and harnessed, the quantum Mpemba effect could have intriguing technological implications, particularly in quantum information processing and quantum technologies: Faster Quantum Annealing: The effect could potentially accelerate quantum annealing processes, leading to more efficient optimization algorithms. Enhanced Quantum Control: A deeper understanding of non-equilibrium dynamics and thermalization in quantum systems could lead to novel techniques for manipulating and controlling quantum states. Quantum Thermometry: The sensitivity of the Mpemba effect to initial conditions and system parameters might be exploited for developing highly sensitive quantum thermometers.

How does the entanglement asymmetry relate to other measures of quantum correlations, such as quantum discord or entanglement negativity, and what insights can be gained from comparing these different measures?

Entanglement asymmetry, quantum discord, and entanglement negativity all quantify different aspects of quantum correlations, providing complementary insights into the nature of these correlations. Entanglement Asymmetry ($\Delta S$): Focus: Quantifies the degree to which a subsystem's entanglement structure breaks a global symmetry of the system. Applicable States: Primarily relevant for systems with global symmetries. Interpretation: A non-zero $\Delta S$ indicates that the entanglement within the subsystem is not evenly distributed across different symmetry sectors. Quantum Discord ($\mathcal{D}$): Focus: Captures all quantum correlations, including entanglement and those not captured by entanglement measures. Applicable States: Applicable to both pure and mixed states. Interpretation: A non-zero $\mathcal{D}$ indicates the presence of quantum correlations beyond those explainable by classical correlations. Entanglement Negativity ($\mathcal{N}$): Focus: A computable measure of entanglement, particularly useful for mixed states. Applicable States: Primarily used for mixed states. Interpretation: A non-zero $\mathcal{N}$ signals the presence of entanglement in the system. Comparison and Insights: Entanglement Asymmetry vs. Discord: While both capture quantum correlations, $\Delta S$ is specific to symmetry breaking, while $\mathcal{D}$ is more general. A non-zero $\Delta S$ implies non-zero $\mathcal{D}$, but the converse is not necessarily true. Entanglement Asymmetry vs. Negativity: $\Delta S$ focuses on symmetry breaking, while $\mathcal{N}$ quantifies entanglement. They are distinct concepts; a state can have zero $\Delta S$ (symmetric entanglement) but non-zero $\mathcal{N}$ (entangled). Complementary Information: Comparing these measures provides a more comprehensive understanding of quantum correlations. For instance, a state with high $\mathcal{D}$ but low $\Delta S$ suggests strong quantum correlations that are largely symmetric. In summary, entanglement asymmetry, quantum discord, and entanglement negativity offer distinct but complementary perspectives on quantum correlations. By comparing these measures, we gain deeper insights into the interplay between entanglement, symmetry, and the overall quantumness of a system.
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