Note on entropy dynamics in the Brownian SYK model

Abstract

We study the time evolution of Rényi entropy in a system of two coupled Brownian SYK clusters evolving from an initial product state. The Rényi entropy of one cluster grows linearly and then saturates to the coarse grained entropy. This Page curve is obtained by two different methods, a path integral saddle point analysis and an operator dynamics analysis. Using the Brownian character of the dynamics, we derive a master equation which controls the operator dynamics and gives the Page curve for purity. Insight into the physics of this complicated master equation is provided by a complementary path integral method: replica diagonal and non-diagonal saddles are responsible for the linear growth and saturation of Ŕenyi entropy, respectively.