English

Emergent geometry through quantum entanglement in Matrix theories

High Energy Physics - Theory 2021-09-01 v3

Abstract

In the setting of the Berenstein-Maldacena-Nastase Matrix theory, dual to light-cone M-theory in a PP-wave background, we compute the Von Neumann entanglement entropy between a probe giant graviton and a source. We demonstrate that this entanglement entropy is directly and generally related to the local tidal acceleration experienced by the probe. This establishes a new map between local spacetime geometry and quantum entanglement, suggesting a mechanism through which geometry emerges from Matrix quantum mechanics. We extend this setting to light-cone M-theory in flat space, or the Banks-Fischler-Shenker-Susskind Matrix model, and we conjecture a new general relation between a certain measure of entanglement in Matrix theories and local spacetime geometry. The relation involves a `c-tensor' that measures the evolution of local transverse area and relates to the local energy-momentum tensor measured by a probe.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2103.06941,
  title  = {Emergent geometry through quantum entanglement in Matrix theories},
  author = {Cameron Gray and Vatche Sahakian and William Warfield},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2103.06941},
  year   = {2021}
}

Comments

29 pages, v2: Added clarifications about adiabatic regime, v3: Minor note added about final entropy expression

R2 v1 2026-06-24T00:01:43.670Z