Capturing quantum phase transition in the ultraviolet region by holography

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that ultraviolet observables in holographic models can effectively diagnose quantum phase transitions, offering a robust method to identify quantum criticality even at finite temperatures.

Contribution

It introduces UV observables as new diagnostics for quantum phase transitions in holography, revealing their critical behavior and robustness over traditional IR methods.

Findings

UV observables' derivatives show extrema near quantum critical points

Analytical results link critical behavior to bulk geometry deformation

UV diagnostics are more robust to thermal fluctuations

Abstract

We reveal for the first time that ultraviolet (UV) observables can diagnose quantum phase transitions (QPTs). In a class of holographic models exhibiting metal-insulator transitions, we study two types of UV observables -- high-frequency conductivity and short-range entanglement. Remarkably, we find that the derivatives of these UV observables exhibit extrema near the quantum critical point. Analytical results show these critical behaviors arise from the deformation of the asymptotic bulk geometry. Moreover, these UV diagnostics show enhanced robustness to thermal fluctuations compared to typical infrared (IR) diagnostics, providing a clean method to identify quantum criticality at finite temperature. This work opens a new window for exploring quantum critical phenomena via UV physics in the laboratory.