Entanglement in a first-order quantum phase transition

Abstract

We analyze the entanglement properties of the ground state for a system of spins half embedded in a magnetic field, mutually interacting antiferromagnetically. Contrary to the ferromagnetic case where a second-order quantum phase transition occurs, a first-order transition is obtained at zero field and the so-called concurrence which measures the two-spin entanglement displays a jump at the transition point.