Seminars

Entanglement and Emergent Space in Matrix Quantum Mechanics

It is well-established the local quantum field theories can arise from lattice models. A distinct origin of quantum fields are large N matrices where, in contrast to most lattice models, no locality is manifest in the microscopic Hamiltonian. The emergence of locality from matrix theories is not well-understood, but is likely essential for understanding the emergence of gravitating spacetime in holographic duality. One diagnostic of locality is (emergent) area law entanglement of the microscopic degrees of freedom. I will discuss a particularly robust notion of entanglement in matrix theories that is rooted in their U(N) Gauss law constraint and show how simple models of 'fuzzy geometry’ contain area law entanglement.

Planckian electrons and phonons in cuprates

This talk will have two parts. Firstly I will give a big picture overview of the phenomenon of “Planckian scattering” in condensed matter systems, ranging from comments by Peierls on conventional metals in the 30’s to very recent studies of cuprates and other strange metals. This broad perspective makes clear the need to disentangle the roles of electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions in strange metals. In the second part of the talk I will discuss some recent ideas about the role of electron-phonon interactions in cuprate transport. I will argue that these have already been probed by heat transport experiments.