Entanglement entropy in causal set theory
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Sorkin, Rafael D
Yazdi, Yasaman K
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Entanglement entropy is now widely accepted as having deep connections with quantum gravity. It is therefore desirable to understand it in the context of causal sets, especially since they provide in a natural manner the UV cutoff needed to render entanglement entropy finite. Formulating a notion of entanglement entropy in a causal set is not straightforward because the type of canonical hypersurface-data on which its definition typically relies is not available. Instead, we appeal to the more global expression given in Sorkin (2012 (arXiv:1205.2953)) which, for a Gaussian scalar field, expresses the entropy of a spacetime region in terms of the field's correlation function within that region (its 'Wightman function' $W(x, x')$ ). Carrying this formula over to the causal set, one obtains an entropy which is both finite and of a Lorentz invariant nature. We evaluate this global entropy-expression numerically for certain regions (primarily order-intervals or 'causal diamonds') within causal sets of 1 + 1 dimensions. For the causal-set counterpart of the entanglement entropy, we obtain, in the first instance, a result that follows a (spacetime) volume law instead of the expected (spatial) area law. We find, however, that one obtains an area law if one truncates the commutator function ('Pauli–Jordan operator') and the Wightman function by projecting out the eigenmodes of the Pauli–Jordan operator whose eigenvalues are too close to zero according to a geometrical criterion which we describe more fully below. In connection with these results and the questions they raise, we also study the 'entropy of coarse-graining' generated by thinning out the causal set, and we compare it with what one obtains by similarly thinning out a chain of harmonic oscillators, finding the same, 'universal' behaviour in both cases.
Date Issued
2018-04-12
Date Acceptance
2018-02-19
Citation
Classical and Quantum Gravity, 2018, 35 (7)
ISSN
0264-9381
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Journal / Book Title
Classical and Quantum Gravity
Volume
35
Issue
7
Copyright Statement
© 2018 IOP Publishing Ltd. This is an author-created, un-copyedited version of an article accepted for publication in Classical and Quantum Gravity. IOP Publishing Ltd is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from it. The definitive publisher authenticated version is available online at https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6382/aab06f.
Subjects
02 Physical Sciences
01 Mathematical Sciences
Nuclear & Particles Physics
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
074004
Date Publish Online
2018-03-09