Entanglement phase transitions in random stabilizer tensor networks

TL;DR

This paper investigates entanglement phase transitions in random stabilizer tensor networks, revealing different universality classes depending on the bond dimension and bond-breaking probability, with connections to conformal field theory and directed polymers.

Contribution

It introduces and numerically analyzes entanglement transitions in RSTNs, identifying universality classes and critical properties that depend on the prime bond dimension D.

Findings

Volume-law entanglement for D≥3, area-law for D=2

Critical measurement rate p_c induces phase transition

Large D approaches percolation conformal field theory

Abstract

We explore a class of random tensor network models with "stabilizer" local tensors which we name Random Stabilizer Tensor Networks (RSTNs). For RSTNs defined on a two-dimensional square lattice, we perform extensive numerical studies of entanglement phase transitions between volume-law and area-law entangled phases of the one-dimensional boundary states. These transitions occur when either (a) the bond dimension $D$ of the constituent tensors is varied, or (b) the tensor network is subject to random breaking of bulk bonds, implemented by forced measurements. In the absence of broken bonds, we find that the RSTN supports a volume-law entangled boundary state with bond dimension $D\geq3$ where $D$ is a prime number, and an area-law entangled boundary state for $D=2$. Upon breaking bonds at random in the bulk with probability $p$, there exists a critical measurement rate $p_c$ for each $D\geq 3$ above which the boundary state becomes area-law entangled. To explore the conformal invariance at these entanglement transitions for different prime $D$, we consider tensor networks on a finite rectangular geometry with a variety of boundary conditions, and extract universal operator scaling dimensions via extensive numerical calculations of the entanglement entropy, mutual information and mutual negativity at their respective critical points. Our results at large $D$ approach known universal data of percolation conformal field theory, while showing clear discrepancies at smaller $D$, suggesting a distinct entanglement transition universality class for each prime $D$. We further study universal entanglement properties in the volume-law phase and demonstrate quantitative agreement with the recently proposed description in terms of a directed polymer in a random environment.