Nematic confined phases in the U(1) quantum link model on a triangular lattice: Near-term quantum computations of string dynamics on a chip

Abstract

The $\text{U}(1)$ quantum link model on the triangular lattice has two rotation-symmetry-breaking nematic confined phases. Static external charges are connected by confining strings consisting of individual strands with fractionalized electric flux. The two phases are separated by a weak first-order phase transition with an emergent, almost exact $\text{SO}(2)$ symmetry. We construct a quantum circuit on a chip to facilitate near-term quantum computations of the nontrivial string dynamics.