Convexity properties of superpositions of degenerate bipartite eigenstates

Abstract

The entanglement content of superpositions of pairs of degenerate eigenstates of a bipartite system are considered in the case that both are also eigenstates of the $z$ component of the total angular momentum. It is shown that the von Neumann entropy of the state that is obtained tracing out one of the parts of the system has a definite convexity (concavity) as a function of the superposition parameter and that its convexity (concavity) can be predicted using a quantity of information that measures the entropy shared by the states at the extremes of the superposition. Several examples of two particle system, whose eigenfunctions and density matrices can be obtained exactly, are analyzed thoroughly.