Real-time-dynamics quantum simulation of (1+1)-dimensional lattice QED with Rydberg atoms

We show how to implement a Rydberg-atom quantum simulator to study the non-equilibrium dynamics of an Abelian (1+1)-D lattice gauge theory. The implementation locally codifies the degrees of freedom of a $\mathbf{Z}_3$ gauge field, once the matter field is integrated out by means of the Gauss' local symmetries. The quantum simulator scheme is based on current available technology and scalable to considerable lattice sizes. It allows, within experimentally reachable regimes, to explore different string dynamics and to infer information about the Schwinger $U(1)$ model.