Localized shocks

Abstract

We study products of precursors of spatially local operators, W[subscript xn](tn)⋅⋅⋅W[subscript x1](t[subscript 1]), where W [subscript x] (t) = e [superscript − iHt] W [subscript x] e [superscript iHt]. Using chaotic spin-chain numerics and gauge/gravity duality, we show that a single precursor fills a spatial region that grows linearly in t. In a lattice system, products of such operators can be represented using tensor networks. In gauge/gravity duality, they are related to Einstein-Rosen bridges supported by localized shock waves. We find a geometrical correspondence between these two descriptions, generalizing earlier work in the spatially homogeneous case.