Quantum Computing Thermalization Dynamics in a (2+1)D Lattice Gauge Theory

ORAL

Abstract

Simulating non-equilibrium phenomena in strongly-interacting quantum many-body systems, including thermalization, is a promising application of near-term and future quantum computation.

By performing experiments on a digital quantum computer consisting of fully-connected optically-controlled trapped ions, we study the role of entanglement in the thermalization dynamics of a Z2 lattice gauge theory in 2+1 spacetime dimensions. Using randomized-measurement protocols, we efficiently learn a classical approximation of non-equilibrium states that yields the gap-ratio distribution and the spectral form factor of the entanglement Hamiltonian. These observables exhibit universal early-time signals for quantum chaos, a prerequisite for thermalization.

Our work, therefore, establishes quantum computers as robust tools for studying universal features of thermalization in complex many-body systems, including in gauge theories.

based on Niklas Mueller, Tianyi Wang, Or Katz, Zohreh Davoudi, Marko Cetina, arXiv:2408.00069

*N.M. acknowledges funding by the Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics, IQuS (\url{https://iqus.uw.edu}), via the program on Quantum Horizons: QIS Research and Innovation for Nuclear Science under Award DE-SC0020970. Z.D., M.C., and T.W. were supported by the National Science Foundation's Quantum Leap Challenge Institute for Robust Quantum Simulation under Award OMA-2120757. Z.D. further acknowledges support by the DOE, Office of Science, Early Career Award DE-SC0020271. This work is further supported by a collaboration between the US DOE and other Agencies. This material is based upon work supported by the DOE, Office of Science, National Quantum Information Science Research Centers, Quantum Systems Accelerator.

Publication: https://arxiv.org/abs/2408.00069

Presenters

  • Niklas Mueller

    • University of Washington

Authors

  • Niklas Mueller

    • University of Washington
  • Zohreh Davoudi

    • University of Maryland College Park
  • Marko Cetina

    • Duke University
  • Or Katz

    • Duke University
    • Cornell University
  • Tianyi Wang

    • Duke University