Even though the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis (ETH) may be introduced as an extension of the random matrix theory, physical Hamiltonians and observables differ from random operators. One of the challenges is to embed local integrals of motion (LIOMs) within the ETH. In this publication we make steps towards a unified treatment of the ETH in integrable and nonintegrable models with translational invariance. Specifically, we focus on the impact of LIOMs on the fluctuations and structure of the diagonal matrix elements of local observables.
COBISS.SI-ID: 15846915
We study the bipartite von Neumann entanglement entropy and matrix elements of local operators in the eigenstates of an interacting integrable Hamiltonian (the paradigmatic spin-1/2 XXZ chain), and we contrast their behavior with that of quantum chaotic systems. We find that the leading term of the average (over all eigenstates in the zero magnetization sector) eigenstate entanglement entropy has a volume-law coefficient that is smaller than the universal (maximal entanglement) one in quantum chaotic systems. This establishes the entanglement entropy as a powerful measure to distinguish integrable models from generic ones.
COBISS.SI-ID: 33074215