  Lattice gauge theories are fundamental to our understanding of high-energy
physics. Nevertheless, the search for suitable platforms for their quantum
simulation has proven difficult. We show that the Abelian Higgs model in 1+1
dimensions is a prime candidate for an experimental quantum simulation of a
lattice gauge theory. To this end, we use a discrete tensor reformulation to
smoothly connect the space-time isotropic version used in most numerical
lattice simulations to the continuous-time limit corresponding to the
Hamiltonian formulation. The eigenstates of the Hamiltonian are neutral for
periodic boundary conditions, but we probe the nonzero charge sectors by either
introducing a Polyakov loop or an external electric field. In both cases we
obtain universal functions relating the mass gap, the gauge coupling, and the
spatial size which are invariant under the deformation of the temporal lattice
spacing. We propose to use a physical multi-leg ladder of atoms trapped in
optical lattices and interacting with Rydberg-dressed interactions to quantum
simulate the model and check the universal features. Our results provide a path
to the analog quantum simulation of lattice gauge theories with atoms in
optical lattices.
