Generalized Parton Distribution Functions via Quantum Simulation of Quantum Field Theory in Light-front Coordinates

TL;DR

This paper introduces quantum simulation algorithms based on light-front coordinates to compute generalized parton distribution functions in quantum field theories, offering a new approach to studying fundamental particle properties.

Contribution

It develops light-front quantum simulation algorithms for relativistic field theories, enabling computation of parton distribution functions with advantages over traditional methods.

Findings

Quantum algorithms for light-front QFTs are developed.

Generalized parton distribution functions are computed for 2+1D QCD.

Light-front formulation shows notable advantages in quantum simulations.

Abstract

Quantum simulation of quantum field theories offers a new way to investigate properties of the fundamental constituents of matter. We develop quantum simulation algorithms based on the light-front formulation of relativistic field theories. The process of quantizing the system in light-cone coordinates will be explained for a Hamiltonian formulation, which becomes block diagonal, each block approximating the Fock space with a certain harmonic resolution K. We analyze a QCD theory in 2+1D. We compute the analogue of parton distribution functions, the generalized parton distribution functions for mesonic composite particles, like hadrons, in these theories. The dependence of such analyses on the scaling of the number of qubits is compared with other schemes and conventional computations. There is a notable advantage to the light-front formulation.