Quantum simulation of non-equilibrium dynamics and thermalization in the Schwinger model

Understand

We present simulations of non-equilibrium dynamics of quantum field theories on digital quantum computers.

• As a representative example, we consider the Schwinger model, a 1+1 dimensional U(1) gauge theory, coupled through a Yukawa-type interaction to a thermal environment described by a scalar field theory.
• We use the Hamiltonian formulation of the Schwinger model discretized on a spatial lattice.
• With the thermal scalar fields traced out, the Schwinger model can be treated as an open quantum system and its real-time dynamics are governed by a Lindblad equation in the Markovian limit.