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arxiv: 1802.02584 · v1 · pith:H4GQJUABnew · submitted 2018-02-07 · ✦ hep-th

Energy is Entanglement

classification ✦ hep-th
keywords energyequationsformulanulltheoriesconditionconjectureentropy
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We compute the local second variation of the von Neumann entropy of a region in theories with a gravity dual. For null variations our formula says that the diagonal part of the Quantum Null Energy Condition is saturated in every state, thus providing an equivalence between energy and entropy. We prove that the formula holds at leading order in 1/N, and further argue that it will not be affected at higher orders. We conjecture that the QNEC is saturated in all interacting theories. We also discuss the special case of free theories, and the implications of our formula for the Averaged Null Energy Condition, Quantum Focusing Conjecture, and gravitational equations of motion. We show that the leading-order gravitational equations of motion, Einstein's equations, are equivalent to leading-order saturation of the QFC for Planck-width deformations.

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Cited by 3 Pith papers

Reviewed papers in the Pith corpus that reference this work. Sorted by Pith novelty score.

  1. Curious QNEIs from QNEC: New Bounds on Null Energy in Quantum Field Theory

    hep-th 2025-10 unverdicted novelty 6.0

    Derives new state-independent lower bounds on semi-local integrals of null energy flux in QFTs of two and higher dimensions using QNEC, strong subadditivity, and modular Hamiltonians.

  2. Entropy Variations and Light Ray Operators from Replica Defects

    hep-th 2019-06 unverdicted novelty 6.0

    Replica analysis shows QNEC saturation in interacting CFTs with twist gap because only the stress-tensor defect operator produces the contact term in the n to 1 limit.

  3. Modave lectures on energy conditions in quantum field theory and semi-classical gravity

    hep-th 2026-05 accept novelty 2.0

    Review of classical energy conditions, their quantum violations, and information-theoretic bounds for semi-classical gravity, based on Modave lectures.