Keldysh Nonlinear Sigma Model for a Free-Fermion Gas under Continuous Measurements

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical framework using a Keldysh nonlinear sigma model to analyze entanglement phase transitions in a free-fermion gas under continuous measurements, unifying measurement-induced and disorder-induced transitions.

Contribution

It introduces an effective time-local Keldysh nonlinear sigma model that analytically describes monitored fermionic systems and unifies measurement effects with disorder physics.

Findings

Derived an analytical expression for conductivity with measurement strength replacing elastic scattering time.

Unified the concepts of disorder and measurement within a single theoretical framework.

Provided numerical verification supporting the theoretical predictions.

Abstract

Quantum entanglement phase transitions have provided new insights to quantum many-body dynamics. Both disorders and measurements are found to induce similar entanglement transitions. Here, we provide a theoretical framework that unifies these two seemingly disparate concepts and discloses their internal connections. Specifically, we analytically analyze a $d$-dimension free-fermion gas subject to continuous projective measurements. By mapping the Lindblad master equation to the functional Keldysh field theory, we develop an effective theory termed as the time-local Keldysh nonlinear sigma model, which enables us to analytically describe the physics of the monitored system. Our effective theory resembles to that used to describe the disordered fermionic systems. As an application of the effective theory, we study the transport property and obtain a Drude-form conductivity where the elastic scattering time is replaced by the inverse measurement strength. According to these similarities, two different concepts, measurements and disorders, are unified in the same theoretical framework. A numerical verification of our theory and predictions is also provided.