Anomalous Decay of Quantum Resources: The Entanglement Sudden Death Mpemba Effect

Abstract: In classical thermodynamics, the Mpemba effect refers to the counterintuitive observation that hot water can freeze faster than cold water, manifesting as an anomalous crossing of dynamical trajectories. While analogues of this phenomenon have been explored in quantum radiative systems and spin-chain entanglement asymmetry, its connection to the finite-time decoupling of quantum correlations remains elusive. In this Letter, we uncover a distinct quantum Mpemba effect associated with entanglement sudden death (ESD). By analyzing two qubits interacting with local amplitude damping reservoirs, we demonstrate that a more strongly entangled initial state can experience a faster collapse into a separable state than a more weakly entangled one. We provide an exact analytical derivation of the trajectory crossover dynamics and the ESD time. Finally, we map the phase diagram of initial state parameters to delineate the regime where this anomalous entanglement Mpemba effect occurs, offering insights into the control of quantum resource lifetimes in dissipative environments.