Thermalization of Strongly Coupled Field Theories

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.

4 pages, 4 figures + 1 figure (v2), v2: new results added on entanglement entropy in 4d field theories and on entropy growth rate, v3: published version

References in corpus (3)

• Horizon formation and far-from-equilibrium isotropization in supersymmetric Yang-Mills plasma
• Weak Field Black Hole Formation in Asymptotically AdS Spacetimes
• Chaotic behavior in classical Yang-Mills dynamics

Cited by in corpus (2)

• Time-dependent AdS/CFT correspondence and the Quark-Gluon plasma
• A moving mirror in AdS space as a toy model for holographic thermalization