The g-theorem and quantum information theory

TL;DR

This paper introduces an entropic $g$-function based on relative entanglement entropy to analyze boundary RG flows in 1+1 dimensional conformal field theories, establishing a quantum-information perspective on RG flow monotonicity.

Contribution

It defines a new entropic $g$-function for boundary CFTs and proves its monotonic decrease along boundary RG flows, independent of the thermal $g$-theorem.

Findings

The entropic $g$-function decreases along boundary RG flows.

Mutual information encodes correlations between impurity and bulk.

Quantum information measures provide new insights into boundary RG dynamics.

Abstract

We study boundary renormalization group flows between boundary conformal field theories in $1+1$ dimensions using methods of quantum information theory. We define an entropic $g$-function for theories with impurities in terms of the relative entanglement entropy, and we prove that this $g$-function decreases along boundary renormalization group flows. This entropic $g$-theorem is valid at zero temperature, and is independent from the $g$-theorem based on the thermal partition function. We also discuss the mutual information in boundary RG flows, and how it encodes the correlations between the impurity and bulk degrees of freedom. Our results provide a quantum-information understanding of (boundary) RG flow as increase of distinguishability between the UV fixed point and the theory along the RG flow.