Quantum Bound on the Specific Entropy in Strong-Coupled Scalar Field Theory

Abstract

Using the Euclidean path integral approach with functional methods, we discuss the $(g_0{\varphi }^p{)}_d$ self-interacting scalar field theory, in the strong-coupling regime. We assume the presence of macroscopic boundaries confining the field in a hypercube of side $L$. We also consider that the system is in thermal equilibrium at temperature ${\beta }^{-1}$. For spatially bounded free fields, the Bekenstein bound states that the specific entropy satisfies the inequality $\frac{S}{E}<2\pi R$, where $R$ stands for the radius of the smallest sphere that circumscribes the system. Employing the strong-coupling perturbative expansion, we obtain the renormalized mean energy $E$ and entropy $S$ for the system up to the order $(g_0{)}^{-\frac{2}{p}}$, presenting an analytical proof that the specific entropy also satisfies in some situations a quantum bound. Defining ${\epsilon }_d^{(r)}$ as the renormalized zero-point energy for the free theory per unit length, the dimensionless quantity $\xi =\frac{\beta }{L}$ and $h_1(d)$ and $h_2(d)$ as positive analytic functions of $d$, for the case of high temperature, we get that the specific entropy satisfies $\frac{S}{E}<2\pi R\frac{h_1(d)}{h_2(d)}\xi$. When considering the low temperature behavior of the specific entropy, we have $\frac{S}{E}<2\pi R\frac{h_1(d)}{{\epsilon }_d^{(r)}}{\xi }^{1-d}$. Therefore the sign of the renormalized zero-point energy can invalidate this quantum bound. If the renormalized zero point-energy is a positive quantity, at intermediate temperatures and in the low temperature limit, there is a quantum bound.

Accepted for publication in Physical Review D