Computing real time correlation functions on a hybrid classical/quantum computer

Understand

Quantum devices may overcome limitations of classical computers in studies of nuclear structure functions and parton Wigner distributions of protons and nuclei.

• In this talk, we discuss a worldline approach to compute nuclear structure functions in the high energy Regge limit of QCD using a hybrid quantum computer, by expressing the fermion determinant in the QCD path integral as a quantum mechanical path integral over $0+1$-dimensional fermionic and bosonic world-lines in background gauge fields.
• Our simplest example of computing the well-known dipole model result for the structure function $F_2$ in the high energy Regge limit is feasible with NISQ era technology using few qubits and shallow circuits.
• This example can be scaled up in complexity and extended in scope to compute structure functions, scattering amplitudes and other real-time correlation functions in QCD, relevant for example to describe non-equilibrium transport of quarks and gluons in a Quark-Gluon-Plasma.