Quantum simulation with gauge fixing: From Ising lattice gauge theory to dynamical flux model

Quantum simulation of synthetic dynamic gauge field has attracted much attentions in recent years. There are two traditional ways to simulate gauge theories. One is to directly simulate the full Hamiltonian of gauge theories with local gauge symmetries. And the other is to engineer the projected Ham...

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Main Authors: Junsen Wang, Xiangxiang Sun, Wei Zheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2025-03-01
Series:Physical Review Research
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.013311
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author Junsen Wang
Xiangxiang Sun
Wei Zheng
author_facet Junsen Wang
Xiangxiang Sun
Wei Zheng
author_sort Junsen Wang
collection DOAJ
description Quantum simulation of synthetic dynamic gauge field has attracted much attentions in recent years. There are two traditional ways to simulate gauge theories. One is to directly simulate the full Hamiltonian of gauge theories with local gauge symmetries. And the other is to engineer the projected Hamiltonian in one gauge subsector. In this work, we provide the third way towards the simulation of gauge theories based on gauge fixing. To demonstrate this concept, we fix the gauge of an Ising lattice gauge field coupled with spinless fermions on a ladder geometry. After the gauge fixing, this gauge theory is reduced to a simpler model, in which fermions hop on a ladder with a fluctuating dynamical Z_{2} flux. Then we show that this model can be realized via Floquet engineering in ultracold atomic gases. By analytical and numerical studies of this dynamical flux model, we deduce that there is a confinement-to-deconfinement phase transition in the original unfixed gauge theory. This work paves the way to quantum simulate lattice gauge theory using the concept of gauge fixing, relevant both for condensed-matter and high-energy physics.
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spelling doaj-art-545ce3cd7b72437c9e84c0035048d8712025-08-20T02:40:33ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642025-03-017101331110.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.013311Quantum simulation with gauge fixing: From Ising lattice gauge theory to dynamical flux modelJunsen WangXiangxiang SunWei ZhengQuantum simulation of synthetic dynamic gauge field has attracted much attentions in recent years. There are two traditional ways to simulate gauge theories. One is to directly simulate the full Hamiltonian of gauge theories with local gauge symmetries. And the other is to engineer the projected Hamiltonian in one gauge subsector. In this work, we provide the third way towards the simulation of gauge theories based on gauge fixing. To demonstrate this concept, we fix the gauge of an Ising lattice gauge field coupled with spinless fermions on a ladder geometry. After the gauge fixing, this gauge theory is reduced to a simpler model, in which fermions hop on a ladder with a fluctuating dynamical Z_{2} flux. Then we show that this model can be realized via Floquet engineering in ultracold atomic gases. By analytical and numerical studies of this dynamical flux model, we deduce that there is a confinement-to-deconfinement phase transition in the original unfixed gauge theory. This work paves the way to quantum simulate lattice gauge theory using the concept of gauge fixing, relevant both for condensed-matter and high-energy physics.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.013311
spellingShingle Junsen Wang
Xiangxiang Sun
Wei Zheng
Quantum simulation with gauge fixing: From Ising lattice gauge theory to dynamical flux model
Physical Review Research
title Quantum simulation with gauge fixing: From Ising lattice gauge theory to dynamical flux model
title_full Quantum simulation with gauge fixing: From Ising lattice gauge theory to dynamical flux model
title_fullStr Quantum simulation with gauge fixing: From Ising lattice gauge theory to dynamical flux model
title_full_unstemmed Quantum simulation with gauge fixing: From Ising lattice gauge theory to dynamical flux model
title_short Quantum simulation with gauge fixing: From Ising lattice gauge theory to dynamical flux model
title_sort quantum simulation with gauge fixing from ising lattice gauge theory to dynamical flux model
url http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.013311
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AT xiangxiangsun quantumsimulationwithgaugefixingfromisinglatticegaugetheorytodynamicalfluxmodel
AT weizheng quantumsimulationwithgaugefixingfromisinglatticegaugetheorytodynamicalfluxmodel