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arXiv:2611.00214

Quantum Simulation of Hadronization: From String Breaking to Event Generation

Christian W. Bauer, Anthony N. Ciavarella, Jad C. Halimeh, Yannick Meurice, Stephen Mrenna, Martin J. Savage, Giovanni Cataldi, Henry Froland, Dorota M. Grabowska, Sebastian Grieninger, Kenneth Heitritter, Michael Hite, Marc Illa, Saurabh V. Kadam, Henry Lamm, Zhiyao Li, Zane Ozzello, Vincent R. Pascuzzi, Blake Senseman, Kaidi Xu, Xiaojun Yao, Nikita A. Zemlevskiy

hep-phhep-latnucl-thquant-phSubmitted Oct 30, 2026• Announced Nov 3, 2026
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

High-energy collisions produce large numbers of quarks and gluons that are bound into hadrons by the confining interactions of quantum chromodynamics (QCD). This hadronization process is intrinsically real-time and non-perturbative. Event generators describe hadronization using phenomenological models with parameters fitted to data rather than calculated from QCD. Uncertainties in these models limit the precision of certain measurements at the Large Hadron Collider. Quantum computers could enable first-principles simulations of these dynamics. Existing quantum simulations of gauge theories have demonstrated string-breaking dynamics. This white paper summarizes the conclusions of the InQubator for Quantum Simulation workshop \textit{From String Dynamics to Event Generation with Quantum Simulation}. We develop a roadmap for extending these simulations to inform phenomenological models of hadronization. A sequence of toy models is proposed for connecting current quantum simulations to QCD. The observables that should be extracted are listed, and the challenges that separate present simulations from quantitative predictions are identified. We propose a staged program in which quantum simulations first provide qualitative modifications to event generators and later provide quantitative input.

Comments
11 pages + appendices

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High-energy collisions produce large numbers of quarks and gluons that are bound into hadrons by the confining interactions of quantum chromodynamics (QCD). This hadronization process is intrinsically real-time and non-perturbative. Event generators describe hadronization using phenomenological models with parameters fitted to data rather than calculated from QCD. Uncertainties in these models limit the precision of certain measurements at the Large Hadron Collider. Quantum computers could enable first-principles simulations of these dynamics. Existing quantum simulations of gauge theories have demonstrated string-breaking dynamics. This white paper summarizes the conclusions of the InQubator for Quantum Simulation workshop \textit{From String Dynamics to Event Generation with Quantum Simulation}. We develop a roadmap for extending these simulations to inform phenomenological models of hadronization. A sequence of toy models is proposed for connecting current quantum simulations to QCD. The observables that should be extracted are listed, and the challenges that separate present simulations from quantitative predictions are identified. We propose a staged program in which quantum simulations first provide qualitative modifications to event generators and later provide quantitative input.
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A quantum algorithm of SU([Formula: see text]) Yang–Mills theory is formulated in terms of quantum circuits. It can nonperturbatively calculate the Dyson series and scattering amplitudes with polynomial complexity. The gauge fields in the interaction picture are discretized on the same footing with the lattice fermions in momentum space to avoid the fermion doubling and the gauge symmetry breaking problems. Applying the algorithm to the quantum simulation of quantum chromodynamics, the quark and gluon’s wave functions evolved from the initial states by the interactions can be observed and the information from wave functions can be extracted at any discrete time. This may help us understand the natures of the hadronization which has been an outstanding question of significant implication on high energy phenomenological studies.