English

Average entanglement entropy of a small subsystem in a constrained pure Gaussian state ensemble

Quantum Physics 2026-03-24 v1 Statistical Mechanics General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology

Abstract

We consider ensembles of pure Gaussian states parametrized by single-mode marginals and (optionally) specific mode-mode correlations. Such ensembles provide a model for the final states when isolated quantum systems thermalize, as they can reproduce thermal properties locally, while being globally pure. By an analysis using real replicas and the coherent state representation of Gaussian states we show that the average entanglement entropy of a small subsystem is the same as the von Neumann entropy of a mixed Gaussian state with the same marginals, but no correlations. Finally, we discuss how these ensembles provide a model for Hawking radiation assuming unitary evolution, and discuss some of their properties in relations to the Page curve of Hawking radiation.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2505.03696,
  title  = {Average entanglement entropy of a small subsystem in a constrained pure Gaussian state ensemble},
  author = {Erik Aurell and Lucas Hackl and Mario Kieburg},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2505.03696},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

24 pages, 3 figures, to be submitted, comments welcome