Atomic Quantum Simulation of Dynamical Gauge Fields coupled to Fermionic Matter: From String Breaking to Evolution after a Quench

TL;DR

This paper proposes a quantum simulator using ultra-cold atoms to emulate a U(1) gauge theory with fermionic matter, enabling the study of phenomena like string breaking and post-quench dynamics beyond classical computational limits.

Contribution

It introduces a novel quantum simulation platform based on quantum links and Hubbard models to explore gauge theories with fermions in real time.

Findings

Demonstrates a feasible method for simulating gauge theories with cold atoms.

Enables investigation of string breaking and quench dynamics in gauge theories.

Provides a pathway for studying non-perturbative phenomena in quantum field theories.

Abstract

Using a Fermi-Bose mixture of ultra-cold atoms in an optical lattice, we construct a quantum simulator for a U(1) gauge theory coupled to fermionic matter. The construction is based on quantum links which realize continuous gauge symmetry with discrete quantum variables. At low energies, quantum link models with staggered fermions emerge from a Hubbard-type model which can be quantum simulated. This allows us to investigate string breaking as well as the real-time evolution after a quench in gauge theories, which are inaccessible to classical simulation methods.