Quantum Simulation of Light-Front Parton Correlators

TL;DR

This paper proposes a quantum algorithm to simulate non-perturbative light-front parton correlators, like Wilson loops, which are difficult to compute with classical methods due to the sign problem, using accessible quantum technologies.

Contribution

It introduces a novel quantum simulation approach for gauge-invariant light-front correlators, enabling studies of hadron structure beyond classical computational limits.

Findings

Designed a quantum algorithm for light-front correlators

Illustrated implementation with a space-time Wilson loop

Discussed feasibility with current quantum hardware

Abstract

The physics of high-energy colliders relies on the knowledge of different non-perturbative parton correlators, such as parton distribution functions, that encode the information on universal hadron structure and are thus the main building blocks of any factorization theorem of the underlying process in such collision. These functions are given in terms of gauge-invariant light-front operators, they are non-local in both space and real time, and are thus intractable by standard lattice techniques due to the well-known sign problem. In this paper, we propose a quantum algorithm to perform a quantum simulation of these type of correlators, and illustrate it by considering a space-time Wilson loop. We discuss the implementation of the quantum algorithm in terms of quantum gates that are accessible within actual quantum technologies such as cold atoms setups, trapped ions or superconducting circuits.