Generalized entanglement in static and dynamic quantum phase transitions

Abstract

We investigate a class of one-dimensional, exactly solvable anisotropic XY spin-1/2 models in an alternating transverse magnetic field from an entanglement perspective. We find that a physically motivated Lie-algebraic generalized entanglement measure faithfully portraits the static phase diagram -- including second- and fourth-order quantum phase transitions belonging to distinct universality classes. In the simplest time-dependent scenario of a slow quench across a quantum critical point, we identify parameter regimes where entanglement exhibits universal dynamical scaling relative to the static limit.