Quantum phase transition and entanglement in Heisenberg XX spin chain with impurity

In this paper, we study the quantum phase transition and the effect of impurity on the thermal entanglement between any two lattices in three-qubit Heisenberg XX chain in a uniform magnetic field. We show that the quantum phase transition always appears when impurity parameter is an arbitrary constant and unequal to zero, the external magnetic field and impurity parameters have a great effect on it. Also, there exists a relation between the quantum phase transition and the entanglement. By modulating the temperature, magnetic field and the impurity parameters, the entanglement between any two lattices can exhibit platform-like behaviour, which can be used to realize entanglement switch. (general)