arXiv subjects

Ling-Yan Hung

Publications and source records attributed to Ling-Yan Hung.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

Instantons and Entanglement Entropy

We would like to put the area law -- believed to by obeyed by entanglement entropies in the ground state of a local field theory -- to scrutiny in the presence of non-perturbative effects. We study instanton corrections to entanglement entropy in various models whose instanton effects are well understood, including $U(1)$ gauge theory in 2+1 dimensions and false vacuum decay in $ϕ^4$ theory, and we demonstrate that the area law is indeed obeyed in these models. We also perform numerical computations for toy wavefunctions mimicking the theta vacuum of the (1+1)-dimensional Schwinger model. Our results indicate that such superpositions exhibit no more violation of the area law than the logarithmic behavior of a single Fermi surface.

hep-th↗

arXiv2017

Inspecting non-perturbative contributions to the Entanglement Entropy via wavefunctions

In this paper, we would like to systematically explore the implications of non-perturbative effects on entanglement in a many body system. Instead of pursuing the usual path-integral method in a singular space, we attempt to study the wavefunctions in detail. We begin with a toy model of multiple particles whose interaction potential admits multiple minima. We study the entanglement of the true ground state after taking the tunnelling effects into account and find some simple patterns. Notably, in the case of multiple particle interactions, entanglement entropy generically decreases with increasing number of minima. The knowledge of the subsystem actually increases with the number of minima. The reduced density matrix can also be seen to have close connections with graph spectra. In a more careful study of the two-well tunnelling system, we also extract the exponentially suppressed tail contribution, the analogues of instantons. To understand the effects of multiple minima in a field theory, it inspires us to inspect wavefunctions in a toy model of bosonic field describing quasi-particles of two different condensates related by Bogoliubov transformations. We find that the area law is naturally preserved. This is probably a useful set of perspectives that promise wider applications.

hep-th↗

arXiv2017

Experimentally Probing Topological Order and Its Breakdown via Modular Matrices

The modern conception of phases of matter has undergone tremendous developments since the first observation of topologically ordered states in fractional quantum Hall systems in the 1980s. In this paper, we explore the question: How much detail of the physics of topological orders can in principle be observed using state of the art technologies? We find that using surprisingly little data, namely the toric code Hamiltonian in the presence of generic disorders and detuning from its exactly solvable point, the modular matrices -- characterizing anyonic statistics that are some of the most fundamental finger prints of topological orders -- can be reconstructed with very good accuracy solely by experimental means. This is a first experimental realization of these fundamental signatures of a topological order, a test of their robustness against perturbations, and a proof of principle -- that current technologies have attained the precision to identify phases of matter and, as such, probe an extended region of phase space around the soluble point before its breakdown. Given the special role of anyonic statistics in quantum computation, our work promises myriad applications both in probing and realistically harnessing these exotic phases of matter.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2017

Experimental Identification of Non-Abelian Topological Orders on a Quantum Simulator

Topological orders can be used as media for topological quantum computing --- a promising quantum computation model due to its invulnerability against local errors. Conversely, a quantum simulator, often regarded as a quantum computing device for special purposes, also offers a way of characterizing topological orders. Here, we show how to identify distinct topological orders via measuring their modular $S$ and $T$ matrices. In particular, we employ a nuclear magnetic resonance quantum simulator to study the properties of three topologically ordered matter phases described by the string-net model with two string types, including the $\Z_2$ toric code, doubled semion, and doubled Fibonacci. The third one, non-Abelian Fibonacci order is notably expected to be the simplest candidate for universal topological quantum computing. Our experiment serves as the basic module, built on which one can simulate braiding of non-Abelian anyons and ultimately topological quantum computation via the braiding, and thus provides a new approach of investigating topological orders using quantum computers.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

Loop Quantum Gravity, Exact Holographic Mapping, and Holographic Entanglement Entropy

The relation between Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG) and tensor network is explored from the perspectives of bulk-boundary duality and holographic entanglement entropy. We find that the LQG spin-network states in a space $Σ$ with boundary $\partialΣ$ is an exact holographic mapping similar to the proposal in arXiv:1309.6282. The tensor network, understood as the boundary quantum state, is the output of the exact holographic mapping emerging from a coarse graining procedure of spin-networks. Furthermore, when a region $A$ and its complement $\bar{A}$ are specified on the boundary $\partialΣ$, we show that the boundary entanglement entropy $S(A)$ of the emergent tensor network satisfies the Ryu-Takayanagi formula in the semiclassical regime, i.e. $S(A)$ is proportional to the minimal area of the bulk surface attached to the boundary of $A$ in $\partialΣ$.

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

The Area Term of the Entanglement Entropy of a Supersymmetric $O(N)$ Vector Model in Three Dimensions

We studied the leading area term of the entanglement entropy of $\mathcal{N}=1$ supersymmetric $O(N)$ vector model in $2+1$ dimensions close to the line of second order phase transition in the large $N$ limit. We found that the area term is independent of the varying interaction coupling along the critical line, unlike what is expected in a perturbative theory. Along the way, we studied non-commuting limits $n-1\to 0$ verses UV cutoff $r\to 0$ when evaluating the gap equation and found a match only when appropriate counter term is introduced and whose coupling is chosen to take its fixed point value. As a bonus, we also studied Fermionic Green's functions in the conical background. We made the observation of a map between the problem and the relativistic hydrogen atom.

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

Exploring the Tensor Networks/AdS Correspondence

In this paper we study the recently proposed tensor networks/AdS correspondence. We found that the Coxeter group is a useful tool to describe tensor networks in a negatively curved space. Studying generic tensor network populated by perfect tensors, we find that the physical wave function generically do not admit any connected correlation functions of local operators. To remedy the problem, we assume that wavefunctions admitting such semi-classical gravitational interpretation are composed of tensors close to, but not exactly perfect tensors. Computing corrections to the connected two point correlation functions, we find that the leading contribution is given by structures related to geodesics connecting the operators inserted at the boundary physical dofs. Such considerations admit generalizations at least to three point functions. This is highly suggestive of the emergence of the analogues of Witten diagrams in the tensor network. The perturbations alone however do not give the right entanglement spectrum. Using the Coxeter construction, we also constructed the tensor network counterpart of the BTZ black hole, by orbifolding the discrete lattice on which the network resides. We found that the construction naturally reproduces some of the salient features of the BTZ black hole, such as the appearance of RT surfaces that could wrap the horizon, depending on the size of the entanglement region A.

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

Relative Entropy, Mixed Gauge-Gravitational Anomaly and Causality

In this note we explored the holographic relative entropy in the presence of the 5d Chern-Simons term, which introduces a mixed gauge-gravity anomaly to the dual CFT. The theory trivially satisfies an entanglement first law. However, to quadratic order in perturbations of the stress tensor $T$ and current density $J$, there is a mixed contribution to the relative entropy bi-linear in $T$ and $J$, signalling a potential violation of the positivity of the relative entropy. Miraculously, the term vanishes up to linear order in a derivative expansion. This prompted a closer inspection on a different consistency check, that involves time-delay of a graviton propagating in a charged background, scattered via a coupling supplied by the Chern-Simons term. The analysis suggests that the time-delay can take either sign, potentially violating causality for any finite value of the CS coupling.

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

Charged Topological Entanglement Entropy

A charged entanglement entropy is a new measure which probes quantum entanglement between different charge sectors. We study symmetry protected topological (SPT) phases in 2+1 dimensional space-time by using this charged entanglement entropy. SPT phases are short range entangled states without topological order and hence cannot be detected by the topological entanglement entropy. We demonstrate that the universal part of the charged entanglement entropy is non-zero for non-trivial SPT phases and therefore it is a useful measure to detect short range entangled topological phases. We also discuss that the classification of SPT phases based on the charged topological entanglement entropy is related to that of the braiding statistics of quasiparticles.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

First Law of Entanglement Entropy vs Black Hole Entropy in an Anomalous Theory

In this note we explore the validity of the first law of entanglement entropy in the context of the topologically massive gravity (TMG). We found that the variation of the holographic entanglement entropy under perturbation from the pure AdS background satisfies the first law upon imposing the bulk equations of motion in a given time slice, despite the appearance of instabilities in the bulk for generic gravitationl Chern-Simons coupling $μ$. The black hole entropy is different from the holographic entanglement entropy in a general boosted frame. This discrepancy however do not affect the entanglement first law.

hep-th↗

arXiv2015

Fake gaps in AdS_3/CFT_2

We discuss properties of interpolating geometries in three dimensional gravity in the presence of a chiral anomaly. This anomaly, which introduces an unbalance between left and right central charges, is protected under RG flows. For this simple reason it is impossible to gap a system with such an anomaly. Our goal is to discuss how holography captures this basic and robust feature. We demonstrate the absence of a mass gap by analysing the linearized spectrum and holographic entanglement entropy of these backgrounds in the context of AdS$_3$/CFT$_2$.

hep-th↗

arXiv2015

Generalized ADE Classification of Gapped Domain Walls

In this paper we would like to demonstrate how the known rules of anyon condensation motivated physically proposed by Bais \textit{et al} can be recovered by the mathematics of twist-free commutative separable Frobenius algebra (CSFA). In some simple cases, those physical rules are also sufficient conditions defining a twist-free CSFA. This allows us to make use of the generalized $ADE$ classification of CSFA's and modular invariants to classify anyon condensation, and thus characterizing all gapped domain walls and gapped boundaries of a large class of topological orders. In fact, this classification is equivalent to the classification we proposed in Ref.1.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Ground State Degeneracy of Topological Phases on Open Surfaces

We relate the ground state degeneracy (GSD) of a non-Abelian topological phase on a surface with boundaries to the anyon condensates that break the topological phase to a trivial phase. Specifically, we propose that gapped boundary conditions of the surface are in one-to-one correspondence to the sets of condensates, each being able to completely break the phase, and we substantiate this by examples. The GSD resulting from a particular boundary condition coincides with the number of confined topological sectors due to the corresponding condensation. These lead to a generalization of the Laughlin-Wu-Tao (LWT) charge-pumping argument for Abelian fractional quantum Hall states (FQHS) to encompass non-Abelian topological phases, in the sense that an anyon loop of a confined anyon winding a non-trivial cycle can pump a condensate from one boundary to another. Such generalized pumping may find applications in quantum control of anyons, eventually realizing topological quantum computation.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

OPE of the stress tensors and surface operators

We demonstrate that the divergent terms in the OPE of a stress tensor and a surface operator of general shape cannot be constructed only from local geometric data depending only on the shape of the surface. We verify this holographically at d=3 for Wilson line operators or equivalently the twist operator corresponding to computing the entanglement entropy using the Ryu-Takayanagi formula. We discuss possible implications of this result.

hep-th↗

arXiv2015

Holographic Charged Renyi Entropies

We construct a new class of entanglement measures by extending the usual definition of Renyi entropy to include a chemical potential. These charged Renyi entropies measure the degree of entanglement in different charge sectors of the theory and are given by Euclidean path integrals with the insertion of a Wilson line encircling the entangling surface. We compute these entropies for a spherical entangling surface in CFT's with holographic duals, where they are related to entropies of charged black holes with hyperbolic horizons. We also compute charged Renyi entropies in free field theories.

hep-th↗

arXiv2015

Revisiting Entanglement Entropy of Lattice Gauge Theories

Casini et al raise the issue that the entanglement entropy in gauge theories is ambiguous because its definition depends on the choice of the boundary between two regions.; even a small change in the boundary could annihilate the otherwise finite topological entanglement entropy between two regions. In this article, we first show that the topological entanglement entropy in the Kitaev model which is not a true gauge theory, is free of ambiguity. Then, we give a physical interpretation, from the perspectives of what can be measured in an experiement, to the purported ambiguity of true gauge theories, where the topological entanglement arises as redundancy in counting the degrees of freedom along the boundary separating two regions. We generalize these discussions to non-Abelian gauge theories.

hep-th↗

arXiv2014

Twist operators in higher dimensions

We study twist operators in higher dimensional CFT's. In particular, we express their conformal dimension in terms of the energy density for the CFT in a particular thermal ensemble. We construct an expansion of the conformal dimension in power series around n=1, with n being replica parameter. We show that the coefficients in this expansion are determined by higher point correlations of the energy-momentum tensor. In particular, the first and second terms, i.e. the first and second derivatives of the scaling dimension, have a simple universal form. We test these results using holography and free field theory computations, finding agreement in both cases. We also consider the `operator product expansion' of spherical twist operators and finally, we examine the behaviour of correlators of twist operators with other operators in the limit n ->1.

hep-th↗

arXiv2014

Charged Renyi entropies and holographic superconductors

Charged Renyi entropies were recently introduced as a measure of entanglement between different charge sectors of a theory. We investigate the phase structure of charged Renyi entropies for CFTs with a light, charged scalar operator. The charged Renyi entropies are calculated holographically via areas of charged hyperbolic black holes. These black holes can become unstable to the formation of scalar hair at sufficiently low temperature; this is the holographic superconducting instability in hyperbolic space. This implies that the Renyi entropies can be non-analytic in the Renyi parameter n. We find the onset of this instability as a function of the charge and dimension of the scalar operator. We also comment on the relation between the phase structure of these entropies and the phase structure of a holographic superconductor in flat space.

hep-th↗