On the renormalization of entanglement entropy
Journal
AAPPS Bulletin
Journal Volume
31
Journal Issue
1
Start Page
28
ISSN
2309-4710
Date Issued
2021-12
Author(s)
Jin-Yi Pang
Abstract
The renormalization of entanglement entropy of quantum field theories is investigated in the simplest setting with a λ ϕ 4 scalar field theory. The 3+1 dimensional spacetime is separated into two regions by an infinitely flat 2-dimensional interface. The entanglement entropy of the system across the interface has an elegant geometrical interpretation using the replica trick, which requires putting the field theory on a curved spacetime background. We demonstrate that the theory, and hence the entanglement entropy, is renormalizable at order λ once all the relevant operators up to dimension 4 are included in the action. This exercise has a one-to-one correspondence to entanglement entropy interpretation of the black hole entropy which suggests that our treatment is sensible. Our study suggests that entanglement entropy is renormalizable and is a physical quantity.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Type
journal article