No Arabic abstract
We study different aspects of quantum field theory at finite density using methods from quantum information theory. For simplicity we focus on massive Dirac fermions with nonzero chemical potential, and work in $1+1$ space-time dimensions. Using the entanglement entropy on an interval, we construct an entropic $c$-function that is finite. Unlike what happens in Lorentz-invariant theories, this $c$-function exhibits a strong violation of monotonicity; it also encodes the creation of long-range entanglement from the Fermi surface. Motivated by previous works on lattice models, we next calculate numerically the Renyi entropies and find Friedel-type oscillations; these are understood in terms of a defect operator product expansion. Furthermore, we consider the mutual information as a measure of correlation functions between different regions. Using a long-distance expansion previously developed by Cardy, we argue that the mutual information detects Fermi surface correlations already at leading order in the expansion. We also analyze the relative entropy and its Renyi generalizations in order to distinguish states with different charge and/or mass. In particular, we show that states in different superselection sectors give rise to a super-extensive behavior in the relative entropy. Finally, we discuss possible extensions to interacting theories, and argue for the relevance of some of these measures for probing non-Fermi liquids.
We investigate a class of exactly solvable quantum quench protocols with a finite quench rate in systems of one dimensional non-relativistic fermions in external harmonic oscillator or inverted harmonic oscillator potentials, with time dependent masses and frequencies. These hamiltonians arise, respectively, in harmonic traps, and the $c=1$ Matrix Model description of two dimensional string theory with time dependent string coupling. We show how the dynamics is determined by a single function of time which satisfies a generalized Ermakov-Pinney equation. The quench protocols we consider asymptote to constant masses and frequencies at early times, and cross or approach a gapless potential. In a right side up harmonic oscillator potential we determine the scaling behavior of the one point function and the entanglement entropy of a subregion by obtaining analytic approximations to the exact answers. The results are consistent with Kibble-Zurek scaling for slow quenches and with perturbation calculations for fast quenches. For cis-critical quench protocols the entanglement entropy oscillates at late times around its initial value. For end-critical protocols the entanglement entropy monotonically goes to zero inversely with time, reflecting the spread of fermions over the entire line. For the inverted harmonic oscillator potential, the dual collective field description is a scalar field in a time dependent metric and dilaton background.
Gauge theories are of paramount importance in our understanding of fundamental constituents of matter and their interactions. However, the complete characterization of their phase diagrams and the full understanding of non-perturbative effects are still debated, especially at finite charge density, mostly due to the sign-problem affecting Monte Carlo numerical simulations. Here, we report the Tensor Network simulation of a three dimensional lattice gauge theory in the Hamiltonian formulation including dynamical matter: Using this sign-problem-free method, we simulate the ground states of a compact Quantum Electrodynamics at zero and finite charge densities, and address fundamental questions such as the characterization of collective phases of the model, the presence of a confining phase at large gauge coupling, and the study of charge-screening effects.
By using the quantum Ising chain as a test bed and treating the spin polarization along the external transverse field as the generalized density, we examine the performance of different levels of density functional approximations parallel to those widely used for interacting electrons, such as local density approximation (LDA) and generalized gradient approximation (GGA). We show that by adding the lowest-order and nearest-neighbor density variation correction to the simple LDA, a semi-local energy functional in the spirit of GGA is almost exact over a wide range of inhomogeneous density distribution. In addition, the LDA and GGA error structures bear a high level of resemblance to the quantum phase diagram of the system. These results provide insights into the triumph and failure of these approximations in a general context.
A tensorial representation of $phi^4$ field theory introduced in Phys. Rev. D. 93, 085005 (2016) is studied close to six dimensions, with an eye towards a possible realization of an interacting conformal field theory in five dimensions. We employ the two-loop $epsilon$-expansion, two-loop fixed-dimension renormalization group, and non-perturbative functional renormalization group. An interacting, real, infrared-stable fixed point is found near six dimensions, and the corresponding anomalous dimensions are computed to the second order in small parameter $epsilon=6-d$. Two-loop epsilon-expansion indicates, however, that the second-order corrections may destabilize the fixed point at some critical $epsilon_c <1$. A more detailed analysis within all three computational schemes suggests that the interacting, infrared-stable fixed point found previously collides with another fixed point and becomes complex when the dimension is lowered from six towards five. Such a result would conform to the expectation of triviality of $O(2)$ field theories above four dimensions.
In (2+1)-dimensional QED with a Chern-Simons term, we show that spontaneous magnetization occurs in the context of finite density vacua, which are the lowest Landau levels fully or half occupied by fermions. Charge condensation is shown to appear so as to complement the fermion anti-fermion condensate, which breaks the flavor U(2N) symmetry and causes fermion mass generation. The solutions to the Schwinger-Dyson gap equation show that the fermion self-energy contributes to the induction of a finite fermion density and/or fermion mass. The magnetization can be supported by charge condensation for theories with the Chern-Simons coefficient $kappa=N e^2/2 pi$, and $kappa=N e^2/4 pi$, under the Gauss law constraint. For $kappa=N e^2/4 pi$, both the magnetic field and the fermion mass are simultaneously generated in the half-filled ground state, which breaks the U(2N) symmetry as well as the Lorentz symmetry.