arXiv subjects

Leo Shaposhnik

Publications and source records attributed to Leo Shaposhnik.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Infinite magic and the emergence of the continuum

Which features of a quantum state are needed for a relativistic quantum field theory to emerge from a lattice system? We address this question by establishing a quantitative relationship between the type classification of hyperfinite von Neumann algebras and the quantum-information-theoretic resource of nonstabilizerness, also called magic. Our results establish two complementary parts of this relationship. First, we prove that any stabilizer system on a lattice defines a canonical GNS Hilbert space in which local von Neumann algebras do not contain type III factors in their central decomposition. As an explicit example, we prove that for stabilizer systems with short-range order, the local algebras are isomorphic to tensor products of hyperfinite factors of type I or type II. This demonstrates that the absence of magic is accompanied by the absence of type III factors in the local algebras, therefore prohibiting the appearance of a quantum field theory. Second, for the hyperfinite factors of Araki, Woods and Powers, we prove a quantitative equivalence: The limiting factor is of type III if and only if the locally optimized min-relative entropy of magic diverges. This divergence is necessary to generate the continuous spectrum associated to a type III factor. Thus, in this setting, the emergence of a type III factor requires not merely the presence of magic, but an infinite amount of it. These results provide a rigorous setting supporting the proposal that infinite magic is a necessary structural ingredient for the emergence of a relativistic continuum from lattice systems.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Searching for emergent spacetime in spin glasses

Recent work on algebraic formulations of holographic dualities in terms of large $N$ algebras has revealed a deep connection between the properties of the associated spectral functions and the emergence of a semiclassical spacetime and causal horizons therein. One of the main lessons is that, for a radial direction to emerge, the spectral function has to exhibit non-compact support. Furthermore, there exist conjectures upon a possible duality between complex gravitational configurations and glassy systems. The goal of this paper is to combine these ideas by studying many-body quantum-mechanical systems and assess in which parameter regimes they could potentially be holographic. Thus, we compute the spectral functions of three many-body systems with quenched disorder, the SYK model, the $p$-spin model and the SU$(M)$ Heisenberg chain in the large $N$ limit and present results in different parameter regimes. Our main finding is that in the quantum spin glass phase of the SU$(M)$ Heisenberg model, the spectral function develops an exponential tail, similar to the large $q$ limit of SYK. Furthermore, we demonstrate the presence of an infinite family of quasiparticle excitations deep in the spin liquid phase of the $p$-spin model, which could point towards an emergent type I von Neumann algebra. In addition, we demonstrate the presence of an exponential tail in the spectral function for all cases without compact support and conformal symmetry. Motivated by this observation, we prove that no low-energy operator can detect a nontrivial bulk causal structure, if the spectral function has exponentially decaying tails.

hep-th↗

arXiv2025

On Infinite Tensor Networks, Complementary Recovery and Type II Factors

We initiate a study of local operator algebras at the boundary of infinite tensor networks, using the mathematical theory of inductive limits. In particular, we consider tensor networks in which each layer acts as a quantum code with complementary recovery, a property that features prominently in the bulk-to-boundary maps intrinsic to holographic quantum error-correcting codes. In this case, we decompose the limiting Hilbert space and the algebras of observables in a way that keeps track of the entanglement in the network. As a specific example, we describe this inductive limit for the holographic HaPPY code model and relate its algebraic and error-correction features. We find that the local algebras in this model are given by the hyperfinite type II$_\infty$ factor. Next, we discuss other networks that build upon this framework and comment on a connection between type II factors and stabilizer circuits. We conclude with a discussion of MERA networks in which complementary recovery is broken. We argue that this breaking possibly permits a limiting type III von Neumann algebra, making them more suitable ansätze for approximating subregions of quantum field theories.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

Entanglement Entropy, Local IR/UV Connection and MPS in Weyl-deformed Geometries

We study the behaviour of entanglement entropy in two-dimensional CFTs under Weyl transformations from the Weyl anomaly. Using the Ryu-Takayanagi-formula, we show that these deformations correspond to local deformations of the IR cutoff of AdS$_3$, which gives an example of the local validity of the IR/UV Connection in AdS/CFT. We then use Matrix Product States to demonstrate the behaviour of entanglement entropy under Weyl transformations in the two-dimensional free fermion CFT mapped to the XY-model with site-dependent coupling. We present numerical results for different deformations of the background and discuss issues arising for the standard DMRG procedure for the resulting inhomogeneous interactions due to a nontrivial background.

hep-th↗