Lorenza Viola
Dartmouth College
Friday, November 2, 2007
4:00 pm in SPL 57
A quantum-entangled view of quantum critical phenomena
Abstract: Developing a qualitative and quantitative understanding of quantum critical phenomena is a key challenge for both fundamental condensed matter theories and device technology applications. In recent years, entanglement theory has provided a bridging testbed for revisiting zero-temperature quantum phase transitions from a quantum information physics perspective. What is the nature and role of entanglement across a quantum phase transition? Can appropriate entanglement measures detect quantum critical points and characterize their universality class? To what extent can non-equilibrium behavior be predicted from knowledge of the equilibrium phase diagram? These are some of the broad motivating questions I plan to survey and address by example. In the process, I will argue how seeking satisfactory answers may challenge the traditional definition of entanglement in terms of distinguishable quantum subsystems, and suggest an alternative approach based on so-called "generalized entanglement".
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