An international team of theoretical researchers provides a thorough overview of quantum physics and its introduction to particle physics.
Advancements in Quantum Simulation: Exploring Many-Body Phenomena
In recent decades, researchers have made amazing progress in isolating and manipulating individual quantum systems and studying quantum many-body phenomena in depth, achieving outstanding results and achievements in the field.
The Significance of Quantum Simulators
Quantum simulators, one of the pillars of quantum technologies, constitute a specific branch of quantum computing. While quantum computing deals with more generalized computing processing problems, quantum simulators tend to tackle specific problems to find particular solutions.
Exploring Complex Quantum Systems
Moreover, quantum simulators now offer the possibility of gathering information to understand and simulate many-body systems in condensed matter physics and even high-energy physics. Furthermore, by learning about complex quantum systems that are either inaccessible to experiments or cannot be approached using standard analytical or numerical methods, quantum simulators have opened new avenues of exploration. To study these systems, simulators use superconducting circuits, ultracold atoms, trapped ions, Rydberg atoms, and photonic systems, among others, to mimic these systems and understand, describe, and model them.
A Collaborative Endeavor: Quantum Simulations of Lattice Gauge Theory
In a recent review paper published in Philosophical Transactions A, a team of researchers from ICFO, Ludwig Maximilians University, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Jagiellonian University, Adam Mickiewicz University, Swansea University, Universität Heidelberg, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Vilnius University, Capital Normal University, Forschungszentrum Jülich, University of Cologne, UAM/CSIC, ICCUB-University of Barcelona, SISSA, University of Innsbruck, IQOQI, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has collaborated to provide an overview of quantum simulations of lattice gauge theory. They aim to enrich the understanding of quantum many-body physics in general and delve into the world of particle and nuclear physics in particular, showing the state-of-the-art in these fields and future perspectives for applications.
Novel Approaches in Lattice Field Theories
More importantly, the researchers introduce a novel approach to lattice field theories by taking the most commonly used theoretical models in gauge theory and replacing their fermionic matter (electrons, protons, neutrons, etc.) with bosonic matter (photons, mesons, etc.) since theorists have realized that these latter elements are more accessible and easier to manipulate for experimentalists.
Recent Advances and Future Directions
Moreover, within the paper, they highlight recent achievements in physics by reviewing the bosonic model of Schwinger. Additionally, they delve into how ultra-cold atoms can explore interesting strongly correlated phenomena related to condensed matter and high-energy physics. Furthermore, they also focus on recent advances in the field of quantum simulators and the different platforms used in tabletop experiments. These platforms include trapped ions, ultracold atoms, or superconducting qubits, allowing the study of isolated many-particle dynamics in real-time. Moreover, they emphasize measuring higher-order correlations and entanglement as key elements in understanding these systems.
As ICREA Prof. at ICFO Maciej Lewenstein points out,
“By employing atomic systems such as ultracold atoms in optical lattices, an enormous range of paradigmatic models from condensed-matter and high-energy physics are being currently studied using table-top experiments. This is turning Feynman’s idea of a quantum simulator into a reality”.
Cited article: Aidelsburger Monika, Barbiero Luca, Bermudez Alejandro, Chanda Titas, Dauphin Alexandre, González-Cuadra Daniel, Grzybowski Przemysław R., Hands Simon, Jendrzejewski Fred, Jünemann Johannes, Juzeliūnas Gediminas, Kasper Valentin, Piga Angelo, Ran Shi-Ju, Rizzi Matteo, Sierra Germán, Tagliacozzo Luca, Tirrito Emanuele, Zache Torsten V., Zakrzewski Jakub, Zohar Erez and Lewenstein Maciej. Cold atoms meet lattice gauge theory 2021, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A. 380: 2021006420210064
