Replacing energy by von Neumann entropy in quantum phase transitions

Abstract

In the thermodynamic limit two distinct states of matter cannot be analytic continuations of each other. Classical phase transitions are characterized by non-analyticities of the free energy. For quantum phase transitions (QPTs) the ground state energy often assumes the role of the free energy. But in a number of important cases this criterion fails to predict a QPT, such as the three-dimensional metal-insulator transition of non-interacting electrons in a random potential (Anderson localization). It is therefore essential that we find alternative criteria that can track fundamental changes in the internal correlations of the ground state wavefunction. Here we propose that QPTs are generally accompanied by non-analyticities of the von Neumann (entanglement) entropy. In particular, the entropy is non-analytic at the Anderson transition, where it exhibits unusual fractal scaling. We also examine two dissipative quantum systems of considerable interest to the study of decoherence and find that non-analyticities occur if and only if the system undergoes a QPT.