(PhD Thesis) The Information Locally Stored in Quantum Fields: From Entanglement to Gravity

TL;DR

This thesis explores how quantum fields encode information related to entanglement, local probes, and spacetime geometry, aiming to connect quantum information with gravity and spacetime structure.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of local quantum field theory, entanglement, and the relationship between quantum information and spacetime geometry, serving as a guide for future research.

Findings

Analysis of entanglement in quantum fields

Description of regimes where QFT approximates direct interactions

Insights into how quantum fields encode spacetime geometry

Abstract

This is an updated version of my PhD thesis, defended at the University of Waterloo on the 2nd of April 2025, uploaded to the ArXiv with the goal of reaching a wider audience. The thesis is divided into 5 chapters, respectively containing (I) a brief introduction to local quantum field theory (QFT), (II) a description of local probes in QFT, (III) a discussion of entanglement in QFT and how to probe it, (IV) a description of the regimes where QFT interactions can be approximated by direct interactions, and (V) a discussion the information about the geometry of spacetime contained in quantum fields. The partial goal of this thesis is to serve as a guide for students aiming to tackle these different research programs. If the reader is interested in pursuing one or more research projects detailed here, they are encouraged to contact me for collaboration in these topics.