Entropy of small subsystems in thermalizing systems

Abstract

We study the entropy of small subsystems in thermalizing quantum many-body systems governed by local Hamiltonians. Assuming the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis, we derive an analytical formula for the von Neumann entropy of equilibrated subsystems. This formula reveals how subsystem entropy depends on the microscopic parameters of the Hamiltonian and the macroscopic properties of the initial state. Furthermore, our results provide a theoretical explanation for recent numerical findings by Maceira and L\"auchli, obtained via exact diagonalization.