A Cold-Atom Particle Collider

Abstract

A major objective of the strong ongoing drive to realize quantum simulators of gauge theories is achieving the capability to probe collider-relevant physics on them. In this regard, a highly pertinent and sought-after application is the controlled collisions of elementary and composite particles, as well as the scattering processes in their wake. Here, we propose particle-collision experiments in a cold-atom quantum simulator for a $1+1$D $\mathrm{U}(1)$ lattice gauge theory with a tunable topological $\theta$-term, where we demonstrate an experimentally feasible protocol to impart momenta to elementary (anti)particles and their meson composites. We numerically benchmark the collisions of moving wave packets for both elementary and composite particles, uncovering a plethora of rich phenomena, such as oscillatory string dynamics in the wake of elementary (anti)particle collisions due to confinement. We also probe string inversion and entropy production processes across Coleman's phase transition through far-from-equilibrium quenches. We further demonstrate how collisions of composite particles unveil their internal structure. Our work paves the way towards the experimental investigation of collision dynamics in state-of-the-art quantum simulators of gauge theories, and sets the stage for microscopic understanding of collider-relevant physics in these platforms.

$20$ pages, $15$ figures

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Cited by in corpus (12)

• Scattering wave packets of hadrons in gauge theories: Preparation on a quantum computer
• Real-time scattering in the lattice Schwinger model
• Loop-string-hadron approach to SU(3) lattice Yang-Mills theory: I. Hilbert space of a trivalent vertex
• Tensor Networks for Lattice Gauge Theories beyond one dimension: a Roadmap
• Scalable Quantum Simulations of Scattering in Scalar Field Theory on 120 Qubits
• Efficient Quantum Simulation of QCD Jets on the Light Front
• Meson thermalization with a hot medium in the open Schwinger model
• Density-Dependent Gauge Field with Raman Lattices
• String-Breaking Dynamics in Quantum Adiabatic and Diabatic Processes
• Optical lattice quantum simulator of dynamics beyond Born-Oppenheimer
• Quantum simulating multi-particle processes in high energy nuclear physics: dijet production and color (de)coherence
• Meson dynamics from locally exciting a particle-conserving $Z_2$ lattice gauge theory