Massive Continuum Limits from Qubit Regularized Lattice Gauge Theories

Realizing a quantum field theory (QFT) as a suitable limit of finite-dimensional quantum mechanical systems has attracted considerable attention, motivated in part by the prospect of studying QFTs on quantum computers. Rather than treating Hilbert space truncation as merely a practical tool for quantum simulation, qubit regularization elevates this idea to a new type of ultraviolet regularization for quantum field theories, beginning with systems built from local finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces. In qubit-regularized theories, continuum physics emerges by tuning such systems to criticality, in the spirit of Wilsonian universality and the freedom inherent in ultraviolet regularization.

In this talk, I will first discuss qubit regularization as a general strategy applicable to quantum field theories more broadly. I will then specialize to lattice gauge theories and present recent results showing how massive asymptotically free continuum gauge theories can arise from qubit-regularized constructions. These results suggest a new way to think about the continuum limit of lattice gauge theories and the emergence of massive bound states such as glueballs.