Real-time dynamics of string breaking

Understand

We study the real-time dynamics of string breaking in quantum electrodynamics in one spatial dimension.

• A two-stage process with a clear separation of time and energy scales for the fermion--antifermion pair creation and subsequent charge separation leading to the screening of external charges is found.
• Going away from the traditional setup of external static charges, we establish the phenomenon of multiple string breaking by considering dynamical charges flying apart.