Thomas Spriggs, "Neural network wavefunctions for SU(2) lattice gauge theory"

Tuesday 21 Jul 2026, 15:00 → 17:00 Europe/Berlin

Nußallee 14-16/3.013 (HISKP) - Seminar Room II (HISKP)

In this talk I will give an introduction to neural network quantum states (NNQS or often just NQS): a flexible, gauge-symmetry-aware, approach to find the ground state wavefunction of Abelian and non-Abelian lattice gauge theories. I will introduce this method in the context of spin systems, where it was first developed, before covering our recent work combining NQS with SU(2) lattice gauge theory [Physical Review Letters 136 101902 (2026), arXiv:2509.12323]. There is an increasing amount of attention paid to tensor network and digital quantum simulation approaches to the Hamiltonian formulation of lattice gauge theories, due in part to the possible access to time evolution and non-equilibrium phenomena. Neural network quantum states, which are also set in this formalism, offer this route to previously hard to access regimes whilst building upon much of the machinery of conventional lattice QCD that has been developed over the past few decades. I will end my talk by drawing attention to the many open-sourced resources in this field, with hopes to lowering the barrier for entry and spark interest in this emerging field.