Thermalization of strongly coupled field theories

Authors
  • V. Balasubramanian
  • A. Bernamonti
  • J. de Boer
  • N. Copland
  • B. Craps
  • E. Keski-Vakkuri
  • B. Müller
  • A. Schäfer
  • M. Shigemori
  • W. Staessens
Publication date 2010
Number of pages 4
Publisher Amsterdam: Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Amsterdam
Organisations
  • Faculty of Science (FNWI) - Institute of Physics (IoP) - Institute for Theoretical Physics Amsterdam (ITFA)
Abstract Using the AdS/CFT correspondence, we probe the scale-dependence of thermalization in strongly coupled field theories following a quench via saddlepoint calculations of 2-point functions, Wilson loops and entanglement entropy in d=2,3,4. For homogeneous initial conditions, the entanglement entropy thermalizes slowest, and sets a timescale for equilibration that saturates a causality bound. The growth rate of entanglement entropy density is nearly volume-independent for small volumes, but slows for larger volumes. In this strongly coupled setting, the UV thermalizes first.
Document type Working paper
Language English
Published at http://arxiv.org/abs/1012.4753
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