Quantum instability and edge entanglement in the quasi-long-range order

Abstract

We investigate the buildup of quasi-long-range order in the XX chain with a transverse magnetic field at finite size. As the field is varied, the ground state of the system displays multiple level crossings producing a sequence of entanglement jumps. Using the partial fidelity and susceptibility, we study the transition to the thermodynamic limit and argue that the topological order can be described in terms of kink-antikink pairs and marked by edge spin entanglement. © 2009 The American Physical Society.