Corner contribution to percolation cluster numbers

We study the number of clusters in two-dimensional (2d) critical percolation, N_Gamma, which intersect a given subset of bonds, Gamma. In the simplest case, when Gamma is a simple closed curve, N_Gamma is related to the entanglement entropy of the critical diluted quantum Ising model, in which Gamma represents the boundary between the subsystem and the environment. Due to corners in Gamma there are universal logarithmic corrections to N_Gamma, which are calculated in the continuum limit through conformal invariance, making use of the Cardy-Peschel formula. The exact formulas are confirmed by large scale Monte Carlo simulations. These results are extended to anisotropic percolation where they confirm a result of discrete holomorphicity.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figure

Random transverse-field Ising chain with long-range interactions

We study the low-energy properties of the long-range random transverse-field Ising chain with ferromagnetic interactions decaying as a power alpha of the distance. Using variants of the strong-disorder renormalization group method, the critical behavior is found to be controlled by a strong-disorder fixed point with a finite dynamical exponent z_c=alpha. Approaching the critical point, the correlation length diverges exponentially. In the critical point, the magnetization shows an alpha-independent logarithmic finite-size scaling and the entanglement entropy satisfies the area law. These observations are argued to hold for other systems with long-range interactions, even in higher dimensions.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Entanglement between random and clean quantum spin chains

The entanglement entropy in clean, as well as in random quantum spin chains has a logarithmic size-dependence at the critical point. Here, we study the entanglement of composite systems that consist of a clean and a random part, both being critical. In the composite, antiferromagnetic XX-chain with a sharp interface, the entropy is found to grow in a double-logarithmic fashion ${\cal S}\sim \ln\ln(L)$, where $L$ is the length of the chain. We have also considered an extended defect at the interface, where the disorder penetrates into the homogeneous region in such a way that the strength of disorder decays with the distance $l$ from the contact point as $\sim l^{-\kappa}$. For $\kappa<1/2$, the entropy scales as ${\cal S}(\kappa) \simeq (1-2\kappa){\cal S}(\kappa=0)$, while for $\kappa \ge 1/2$, when the extended interface defect is an irrelevant perturbation, we recover the double-logarithmic scaling. These results are explained through strong-disorder RG arguments.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, Invited contribution to the Festschrift of John Cardy's 70th birthda

Excess entropy and central charge of the two-dimensional random-bond Potts model in the large-Q limit

We consider the random-bond Potts model in the large-$Q$ limit and calculate the excess entropy, $S_{\Gamma}$, of a contour, $\Gamma$, which is given by the mean number of Fortuin-Kasteleyn clusters which are crossed by $\Gamma$. In two dimensions $S_{\Gamma}$ is proportional to the length of $\Gamma$, to which - at the critical point - there are universal logarithmic corrections due to corners. These are calculated by applying techniques of conformal field theory and compared with the results of large scale numerical calculations. The central charge of the model is obtained from the corner contributions to the excess entropy and independently from the finite-size correction of the free-energy as: $\lim_{Q \to \infty}c(Q)/\ln Q =0.74(2)$, close to previous estimates calculated at finite values of $Q$.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure

Complex quantum network models from spin clusters

In the emerging quantum internet, complex network topology could lead to efficient quantum communication and enhanced robustness against failures. However, there are some concerns about complexity in quantum communication networks, such as potentially limited end-to-end transmission capacity. These challenges call for model systems in which the feasibility and impact of complex network topology on quantum communication protocols can be explored. Here, we present a theoretical model for complex quantum communication networks on a lattice of spins, wherein entangled spin clusters in interacting quantum spin systems serve as communication links between appropriately selected regions of spins. Specifically, we show that ground state Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger clusters of the two-dimensional random transverse Ising model can be used as communication links between regions of spins, and we show that the resulting quantum networks can have complexity comparable to that of the classical internet. Our work provides an accessible generative model for further studies towards determining the network characteristics of the emerging quantum internet.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figure

Universal logarithmic terms in the entanglement entropy of 2d, 3d and 4d random transverse-field Ising models

The entanglement entropy of the random transverse-field Ising model is calculated by a numerical implementation of the asymptotically exact strong disorder renormalization group method in 2d, 3d and 4d hypercubic lattices for different shapes of the subregion. We find that the area law is always satisfied, but there are analytic corrections due to E-dimensional edges (1<=E<=d-2). More interesting is the contribution arising from corners, which is logarithmically divergent at the critical point and its prefactor in a given dimension is universal, i.e. independent of the form of disorder.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Renormalization group study of random quantum magnets

We have developed a very efficient numerical algorithm of the strong disorder renormalization group method to study the critical behaviour of the random transverse-field Ising model, which is a prototype of random quantum magnets. With this algorithm we can renormalize an N-site cluster within a time N*log(N), independently of the topology of the graph and we went up to N~4*10^6. We have studied regular lattices with dimension D<=4 as well as Erdos-Renyi random graphs, which are infinite dimensional objects. In all cases the quantum critical behaviour is found to be controlled by an infinite disorder fixed point, in which disorder plays a dominant role over quantum fluctuations. As a consequence the renormalization procedure as well as the obtained critical properties are asymptotically exact for large systems. We have also studied Griffiths singularities in the paramagnetic and the ferromagnetic phases and generalized the numerical algorithm for another random quantum systems.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figure

Unveiling universal aspects of the cellular anatomy of the brain

Recent cellular-level volumetric brain reconstructions have revealed high levels of anatomic complexity. Determining which structural aspects of the brain to focus on, especially when comparing with computational models and other organisms, remains a major challenge. Here we quantify aspects of this complexity and show evidence that brain anatomy satisfies universal scaling laws, establishing the notion of structural criticality in the cellular structure of the brain. Our framework builds upon understanding of critical systems to provide clear guidance in selecting informative structural properties of brain anatomy. As an illustration, we obtain estimates for critical exponents in the human, mouse and fruit fly brains and show that they are consistent between organisms, to the extent that data limitations allow. Such universal quantities are robust to many of the microscopic details of individual brains, providing a key step towards generative computational brain models, and also clarifying in which sense one animal may be a suitable anatomic model for another.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figure