Dynamics and entanglement in quantum and quantum-classical systems: lessons for gravity

Motivated by quantum gravity, semi-classical theory, and quantum theory on curved spacetimes, we study the system of an oscillator coupled to two spin-1/2 particles. This model provides a prototype for comparing three types of dynamics: the full quantum theory, the classical oscillator with spin backreaction, and spins propagating on a fixed oscillator background. From nonperturbative calculations of oscillator and entanglement entropy dynamics, we find that entangled tripartite states produce novel oscillator trajectories, and that the three systems give equivalent dynamics for sufficiently weak oscillator-spin couplings, but deviate significantly for intermediate couplings. These results suggest that semiclassical dynamics with back reaction does not provide a suitable intermediate regime between quantum gravity and quantum theory on curved spacetime.