Speaker
Description
Classical tensor networks and hybrid quantum-classical algorithms offer a promising path toward simulating the real-time dynamics of lattice gauge theories. In this talk, we present a novel framework that strictly enforces gauge symmetry via a virtual quantum-link rishon representation. Crucially, both gauge and matter degrees of freedom are treated as dynamical variables encoded directly into qubits, enabling the scalable analysis of gauge theories in $d+1$ spacetime dimensions.
We demonstrate the robustness of this framework through classical benchmarks using DMRG in $U(1)$ gauge theories. For $d=1$, we analyze the multi-flavor Schwinger model ($1 \le N_f \le 3$) under arbitrary boundary conditions and a nonzero topological angle, successfully capturing signatures of the underlying Wess-Zumino-Witten conformal field theory. For $d=2$, we showcase its higher-dimensional viability by extracting the confining string tension in close agreement with continuum expectations. Finally, we discuss the outlook for deploying this virtual rishon approach on near-term quantum hardware.