Project Details
Projekt
Quantum Field Simulator
Subject Area
Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
Term
Funded in 2025
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 563141209
The field of quantum simulation has been established in the last decade and many experimental platforms ranging from atomic to photonic and electronic systems have been developed. Recently, a new avenue with ultracold gases has been identified which allow the simulation of quantum fields i.e. continuous in spacetime and in observables. A setting that is typically given in fundamental descriptions in high energy physics, cosmological settings and fundamental and general questions arising in quantum field theories. Significant progress has been made in recent years, including the quantum simulation of thermalization dynamics in gauge theories, as well as the condensation and thermalization of complex quantum systems that are challenging to model with classical approaches. In addition, simulations involving relativistic scalar fields within adjustable spacetime metrics have enabled the study of particle production in time-dependent geometries. These advancements primarily utilize quantum simulators based on ultracold quantum gases. These simulators are not fully programmable and require special mathematical mappings tailored to specific physics questions and thus rely on close collaboration between theory and experiment. However, they are highly scalable and allow the exploration of complicated and complex many-body quantum field dynamics. The planned instrument will allow for the robust generation of degenerate ultracold gases of spin-1 and spin-2 rubidium in one, two, and three-dimensions, with additional maximal control of the initial conditions in both spatial and spin degrees of freedom. The dynamical control of density and spin-couplings during the evolution of interest will allow the study of fundamental questions in the context generalizations of general relativity making for example non-metricity accessible as well as the study of universal dynamics in the cross-over from one-dimensional to three-dimensional situations. Furthermore, the anticipated precision of preparation as well as detection will allow for the detection of quantum correlations and thus give true quantum answers, such as area law of entropy arising in the early dynamics after a quench, what kind of non-local entanglement in fields emerges in expanding spacetimes and the robustness of quantum correlations in the universal time evolution regime.
DFG Programme
Major Research Instrumentation
Major Instrumentation
Simulator für Dynamik von Quanten-Felder
Instrumentation Group
6860 Mikrowellen-Bauelemente
Applicant Institution
Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
