Triangle Seminars
Wednesday, 19 Aug 2026
Watching quantum fields evolve: partons and thermalisation on quantum computers
📍 London
Jiunn-Wei Chen
(National Taiwan University)
Abstract:
Abstract: Many of the most important phenomena in quantum field theory—parton dynamics, real-time evolution, and thermalization—are extremely difficult to study with conventional classical computers. Quantum computers provide a new opportunity: they allow us to simulate quantum systems by using another controllable quantum system. In this talk, I will present two recent field-theory calculations carried out on quantum computers, based on arXiv:2506.16829 and arXiv:2603.23948. The first explores parton distributions in the Schwinger model, connecting quantum simulation to the internal structure of relativistic bound states. The second investigates thermalization in SU(2) lattice gauge fields, addressing how apparently thermal behavior can emerge from unitary quantum evolution. No prior knowledge of quantum computing will be assumed; the talk will focus on the physics motivation, the basic ideas, and what these calculations teach us about real-time quantum field theory.
Abstract: Many of the most important phenomena in quantum field theory—parton dynamics, real-time evolution, and thermalization—are extremely difficult to study with conventional classical computers. Quantum computers provide a new opportunity: they allow us to simulate quantum systems by using another controllable quantum system. In this talk, I will present two recent field-theory calculations carried out on quantum computers, based on arXiv:2506.16829 and arXiv:2603.23948. The first explores parton distributions in the Schwinger model, connecting quantum simulation to the internal structure of relativistic bound states. The second investigates thermalization in SU(2) lattice gauge fields, addressing how apparently thermal behavior can emerge from unitary quantum evolution. No prior knowledge of quantum computing will be assumed; the talk will focus on the physics motivation, the basic ideas, and what these calculations teach us about real-time quantum field theory.
Posted by: JUVEN WANG