Quantum thermodynamics of nonequilibrium processes in lattice gauge theories

Abstract

A key objective in nuclear and high-energy physics is to describe nonequilibrium dynamics of matter, e.g., in the early universe and in particle colliders, starting from the Standard Model. Classical-computing methods, via the framework of lattice gauge theory, have experienced limited success in this mission. Quantum simulation of lattice gauge theories holds promise for overcoming computational limitations. Because of local constraints (Gauss's laws), lattice gauge theories have an intricate Hilbert-space structure. This structure complicates the definition of thermodynamic properties of systems coupled to reservoirs during equilibrium and nonequilibrium processes. We show how to define thermodynamic quantities such as work and heat using strong-coupling thermodynamics, a framework that has recently burgeoned within the field of quantum thermodynamics. Our definitions suit instantaneous quenches, simple nonequilibrium processes undertaken in quantum simulators. To illustrate our framework, we compute the work and heat exchanged during a quench in a ${\mathbb{Z}}_2$ lattice gauge theory coupled to matter in 1+1 dimensions. The thermodynamic quantities, as functions of the quench parameter, evidence a phase transition. For general thermal states, we derive a simple relation between a quantum many-body system's entanglement Hamiltonian, measurable with quantum-information-processing tools, and the Hamiltonian of mean force, used to define strong-coupling thermodynamic quantities.

Close to published version. 11 pages, 6 figures (total)

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• Quantum Computing Universal Thermalization Dynamics in a (2+1)D Lattice Gauge Theory
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• The phase diagram of quantum chromodynamics in one dimension on a quantum computer
• Emergent Hydrodynamic Mode on SU(2) Plaquette Chains and Quantum Simulation
• String-Breaking Dynamics in Quantum Adiabatic and Diabatic Processes
• Casimir effect in critical $\mathrm{O}(N)$ models from non-equilibrium Monte Carlo simulations
• Realization of Two-dimensional Discrete Time Crystals with Anisotropic Heisenberg Coupling
• Work and heat exchanged during sudden quenches of strongly coupled quantum systems