Classically emulated digital quantum simulation for screening and confinement in the Schwinger model with a topological term

Abstract

We perform digital quantum simulation, using a classical simulator, to study screening and confinement in a gauge theory with a topological term, focusing on ($1+1$)-dimensional quantum electrodynamics (Schwinger model) with a theta term. We compute the ground state energy in the presence of probe charges to estimate the potential between them, via adiabatic state preparation. We compare our simulation results and analytical predictions for a finite volume, finding good agreements. In particular our result in the massive case shows a linear behavior for noninteger charges and a nonlinear behavior for integer charges, consistently with the expected confinement (screening) behavior for noninteger (integer) charges.