Multipartite dynamics beyond bipartite entanglement equilibration
Entanglement equilibration need not mark the end of quantum-information dynamics in quantum thermalization. We show that the complete Schmidt spectra of a fixed tripartition can become stationary while its multipartite correlation structure, distinguished by local-unitary invariants, continues to evolve. This separation occurs exactly within a finite window in self-dual kicked-Ising dynamics and asymptotically in Haar-random circuits. We further demonstrate an independently tunable timescale for multipartite dynamics using quantum-error-correcting codes. When coupled to a locally scrambling bath, ordinary entanglement approaches equilibrium through rapid local scrambling, while weak logical--bath coupling drives a slower reorganization of multipartite correlations. These results reveal a deeper distinction than the ordering of equilibration times: bipartite entanglement and multipartite correlation structure can probe distinct physical channels of quantum-information dynamics, rather than merely different stages of the same relaxation process.