( 3+1 )-dimensional Schwinger pair production with quantum computers

Abstract

Real-time quantum simulation of quantum field theory in $(3+1)\mathrm{D}$ requires large quantum computing resources. With a few-qubit quantum computer, we develop a novel algorithm and experimentally study the Schwinger effect, the electron-positron pair production in a strong electric field, in $(3+1)\mathrm{D}$. The resource reduction is achieved by treating the electric field as a background field, working in Fourier space transverse to the electric field direction, and considering parity symmetry, such that we successfully map the three spatial dimension problems into one spatial dimension problems. We observe that the rate of pair production of electrons and positrons is consistent with the theoretical predication of the Schwinger effect. Our work paves the way towards exploring quantum simulation of quantum field theory beyond one spatial dimension.