Entanglement entropy of random quantum critical points in one dimension

For quantum critical spin chains without disorder, it is known that the entanglement of a segment of N>>1 spins with the remainder is logarithmic in N with a prefactor fixed by the central charge of the associated conformal field theory. We show that for a class of strongly random quantum spin chains, the same logarithmic scaling holds for mean entanglement at criticality and defines a critical entropy equivalent to central charge in the pure case. This effective central charge is obtained for Heisenberg, XX, and quantum Ising chains using an analytic real-space renormalization group approach believed to be asymptotically exact. For these random chains, the effective universal central charge is characteristic of a universality class and is consistent with a c-theorem.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Exact boundary conditions in numerical relativity using multiple grids: scalar field tests

Cauchy-Characteristic Matching (CCM), the combination of a central 3+1 Cauchy code with an exterior characteristic code connected across a time-like interface, is a promising technique for the generation and extraction of gravitational waves. While it provides a tool for the exact specification of boundary conditions for the Cauchy evolution, it also allows to follow gravitational radiation all the way to infinity, where it is unambiguously defined. We present a new fourth order accurate finite difference CCM scheme for a first order reduction of the wave equation around a Schwarzschild black hole in axisymmetry. The matching at the interface between the Cauchy and the characteristic regions is done by transfering appropriate characteristic/null variables. Numerical experiments indicate that the algorithm is fourth order convergent. As an application we reproduce the expected late-time tail decay for the scalar field.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures. Included changes suggested by referee

Field-theory results for three-dimensional transitions with complex symmetries

We discuss several examples of three-dimensional critical phenomena that can be described by Landau-Ginzburg-Wilson $\phi^4$ theories. We present an overview of field-theoretical results obtained from the analysis of high-order perturbative series in the frameworks of the $\epsilon$ and of the fixed-dimension d=3 expansions. In particular, we discuss the stability of the O(N)-symmetric fixed point in a generic N-component theory, the critical behaviors of randomly dilute Ising-like systems and frustrated spin systems with noncollinear order, the multicritical behavior arising from the competition of two distinct types of ordering with symmetry O($n_1$) and O($n_2$) respectively.Comment: 9 pages, Talk at the Conference TH2002, Paris, July 200

Entanglement Entropy in Extended Quantum Systems

After a brief introduction to the concept of entanglement in quantum systems, I apply these ideas to many-body systems and show that the von Neumann entropy is an effective way of characterising the entanglement between the degrees of freedom in different regions of space. Close to a quantum phase transition it has universal features which serve as a diagnostic of such phenomena. In the second part I consider the unitary time evolution of such systems following a `quantum quench' in which a parameter in the hamiltonian is suddenly changed, and argue that finite regions should effectively thermalise at late times, after interesting transient effects.Comment: 6 pages. Plenary talk delivered at Statphys 23, Genoa, July 200

Quantum Quench from a Thermal Initial State

We consider a quantum quench in a system of free bosons, starting from a thermal initial state. As in the case where the system is initially in the ground state, any finite subsystem eventually reaches a stationary thermal state with a momentum-dependent effective temperature. We find that this can, in some cases, even be lower than the initial temperature. We also study lattice effects and discuss more general types of quenches.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures; short published version, added references, minor change

Entanglement properties of quantum spin chains

We investigate the entanglement properties of a finite size 1+1 dimensional Ising spin chain, and show how these properties scale and can be utilized to reconstruct the ground state wave function. Even at the critical point, few terms in a Schmidt decomposition contribute to the exact ground state, and to physical properties such as the entropy. Nevertheless the entanglement here is prominent due to the lower-lying states in the Schmidt decomposition.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Toward autonomous spacecraft

Ways in which autonomous behavior of spacecraft can be extended to treat situations wherein a closed loop control by a human may not be appropriate or even possible are explored. Predictive models that minimize mean least squared error and arbitrary cost functions are discussed. A methodology for extracting cyclic components for an arbitrary environment with respect to usual and arbitrary criteria is developed. An approach to prediction and control based on evolutionary programming is outlined. A computer program capable of predicting time series is presented. A design of a control system for a robotic dense with partially unknown physical properties is presented

Violation of area-law scaling for the entanglement entropy in spin 1/2 chains

Entanglement entropy obeys area law scaling for typical physical quantum systems. This may naively be argued to follow from locality of interactions. We show that this is not the case by constructing an explicit simple spin chain Hamiltonian with nearest neighbor interactions that presents an entanglement volume scaling law. This non-translational model is contrived to have couplings that force the accumulation of singlet bonds across the half chain. Our result is complementary to the known relation between non-translational invariant, nearest neighbor interacting Hamiltonians and QMA complete problems.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

Scaling of the von Neumann entropy across a finite temperature phase transition

The spectrum of the reduced density matrix and the temperature dependence of the von Neumann entropy (VNE) are analytically obtained for a system of hard core bosons on a complete graph which exhibits a phase transition to a Bose-Einstein condensate at $T=T_c$. It is demonstrated that the VNE undergoes a crossover from purely logarithmic at T=0 to purely linear in block size $n$ behaviour for $T\geq T_{c}$. For intermediate temperatures, VNE is a sum of two contributions which are identified as the classical (Gibbs) and the quantum (due to entanglement) parts of the von Neumann entropy.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Entanglement entropy of two disjoint intervals in conformal field theory

We study the entanglement of two disjoint intervals in the conformal field theory of the Luttinger liquid (free compactified boson). Tr\rho_A^n for any integer n is calculated as the four-point function of a particular type of twist fields and the final result is expressed in a compact form in terms of the Riemann-Siegel theta functions. In the decompactification limit we provide the analytic continuation valid for all model parameters and from this we extract the entanglement entropy. These predictions are checked against existing numerical data.Comment: 34 pages, 7 figures. V2: Results for small x behavior added, typos corrected and refs adde