We compute the entanglement entropy and mutual information for two disjoint intervals in two-dimensional conformal field theories as a function of time after a local quench, using the replica trick and boundary conformal field theory. We obtain explicit formulas for the universal contributions, which are leading in the regimes of, for example, close or well-separated intervals of fixed length. The results are largely consistent with the quasiparticle picture, in which entanglement above that present in the ground state is carried by pairs of entangled freely propagating excitations. We also calculate the mutual information for two disjoint intervals in a proposed holographic local quench, whose holographic energy-momentum tensor matches the conformal field theory one. We find that the holographic mutual information shows qualitative differences from the conformal field theory results and we discuss possible interpretations of this.
We compute the entanglement entropy and mutual information for two disjoint intervals in two-dimensional conformal field theories as a function of time after a local quench, using the replica trick and boundary conformal field theory. We obtain explicit formulas for the universal contributions, which are leading in the regimes of, for example, close or well-separated intervals of fixed length. The results are largely consistent with the quasiparticle picture, in which entanglement above that present in the ground state is carried by pairs of entangled freely propagating excitations. We also calculate the mutual information for two disjoint intervals in a proposed holographic local quench, whose holographic energy-momentum tensor matches the conformal field theory one. We find that the holographic mutual information shows qualitative differences from the conformal field theory results and we discuss possible interpretations of this.
Abstract We consider the time evolution of mixed state correlation measures in two-dimensional conformal field theories, such as logarithmic negativity, odd entropy, and reflected entropy, after quantum quenches of various kinds. These correlation measures, in the holographic context, are all associated to the entanglement wedge cross section. We contrast various classes of conformal field theories, both rational and irrational (pure) conformal field theories. First, for rational conformal field theories, whose dynamics can be well described by the quasi-particle picture, we find all four quantities for disjoint intervals to be proportional, regardless of the specific quench protocol. Second, using the light cone boot- strap, we generalize our results to irrational conformal field theories where we find sharp distinctions from the quasi-particle results and striking differences between mutual information and the other measures. The large surplus of logarithmic negativity relative to mutual information forces us to reconsider what mutual information and logarithmic negativity really measure. We interpret these results as a signature of information scrambling and chaos in irrational theories. These CFT results perfectly agree with our gravitational (holographic) calculations. Furthermore, using holography, we are able to generalize the results to outside of the light cone limit. Finally, due to the breakdown of the quasi-particle picture for irrational theories, we appeal to the “line-tension picture,” motivated by random unitary circuits, as a phenomenological description. We observe that random unitary circuits, with local Hilbert space dimension determined by the Cardy formula, have precisely the same entanglement dynamics as irrational (including holographic) conformal field theories.
We study the time evolution of single interval Rényi and entanglement entropies following local quantum quenches in two dimensional conformal field theories at finite temperature for which the locally excited states have a finite temporal width ϵ. We show that, for local quenches produced by the action of a conformal primary field, the time dependence of Rényi and entanglement entropies at order ϵ2 is universal. It is determined by the expectation value of the stress tensor in the replica geometry and proportional to the conformal dimension of the primary field generating the local excitation. We also show that in CFTs with a gravity dual, the ϵ2 correction to the holographic entanglement entropy following a local quench precisely agrees with the CFT prediction. We then consider CFTs admitting a higher spin symmetry and turn on a higher spin chemical potential μ. We calculate the time dependence of the order ϵ2 correction to the entanglement entropy for small μ, and show that the contribution at order μ 2 is universal. We verify our arguments against exact results for minimal models and the free fermion theory.
We analyze how excitations affect the entanglement entropy for an arbitrary entangling interval in a 2d conformal field theory (CFT) using the holographic entanglement entropy techniques as well as direct CFT computations. We introduce the excitation entanglement entropy ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{h}S$, the difference between the entanglement entropy generic excitations and their arbitrary conformal descendants denoted through h. The excitation entanglement entropy, unlike the entanglement entropy, is a finite quantity (independent of the cutoff), and hence a good physical observable. We show that the excitation entanglement entropy for any given interval is uniquely specified by a local second order differential equation sourced by the one point function of the energy momentum tensor computed in the excited background state, and two boundary and smoothness conditions. We analyze low and high temperature behavior of the excitation entanglement entropy and show that ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{h}S$ grows as a function of temperature. We prove an ``integrated positivity'' for the excitation entanglement entropy, that although ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{h}S$ can be positive or negative, its average value is always positive. We also discuss the mutual and multipartite information and (strong) subadditivity inequality in the presence of generic excitations and their conformal descendants.
We develop a unified framework for computing Rényi and entanglement entropies of arbitrary spacetime intervals in time-dependent states of (1+1)-dimensional conformal field theories. By combining the spacetime density matrix formalism with the replica method, we show that entanglement entropy is well defined for both spacelike and timelike separations. Applying this framework to global quenches prepared by boundary states and to local quenches generated by operator insertions, we obtain analytic expressions for the entanglement entropy in general spacetime configurations. The results reveal qualitative differences between spacelike and timelike intervals: the timelike entanglement entropy is time-independent in the global quench model, depends solely on the temporal separation, and universally exhibits a constant imaginary contribution. These features are naturally explained by a generalized quasiparticle picture in which entanglement is produced precisely when one worldline of each quasiparticle pair intersects the interval. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the linear sum rule relating time- and spacelike entanglement persists in both global and local quenches, indicating a broader universality of spacetime entanglement in real-time quantum dynamics.
A bstract We develop a unified framework for computing Rényi and entanglement entropies of arbitrary spacetime intervals in time-dependent states of (1 + 1)-dimensional conformal field theories. By combining the spacetime density matrix formalism with the replica method, we show that entanglement entropy is well defined for both spacelike and timelike separations. Applying this framework to global quenches prepared by boundary states and to local quenches generated by operator insertions, we obtain analytic expressions for the entanglement entropy in general spacetime configurations. The results reveal qualitative differences between spacelike and timelike intervals: the timelike entanglement entropy is time-independent in the global quench model, depends solely on the temporal separation, and universally exhibits a constant imaginary contribution. These features are naturally explained by a generalized quasiparticle picture in which entanglement is produced precisely when one worldline of each quasiparticle pair intersects the interval. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the linear sum rule relating time- and spacelike entanglement persists in both global and local quenches, indicating a broader universality of spacetime entanglement in real-time quantum dynamics.
We study the time evolution of the entanglement structure of holographic conformal field theories after a local quench. Using the mutual information between two spatial intervals as a probe, we find that 1+1-dimensional conformal field theories exhibit a rich pattern of dynamical phase transitions. In the large-central-charge limit, mutual information develops sharp non-analyticities at critical times, providing a concrete entanglement-based realization of dynamical quantum phase transitions. We find that the dynamics organize into six distinct phases of mutual information, each controlled by the dominance of a different conformal block, or equivalently, a different holographic geodesic configuration. This phase structure goes beyond the standard quasi-particle picture, explaining non-analytic features that are not captured by simple light-cone propagation from the quench points. We further identify a dynamical D4 symmetry acting on the interval endpoints that controls the presence or absence of mutual information. The onset of mutual information is governed by the breaking of this symmetry to a Z2×Z2 subgroup, suggesting a symmetry-based characterization of non-equilibrium entanglement dynamics analogous to the role of symmetry in equilibrium critical phenomena. Finally, numerical studies of critical spin chains indicate that finite-c effects smooth out the sharp large-c transitions between different mutual-information phases, while the transitions between phases with and without mutual information appear to remain non-analytic. These results offer a unifying perspective on real-time entanglement dynamics and their critical features in conformal many-body systems.