Scientists have used a 5564-qubit quantum computer to simulate a potential cosmic and cataclysmic event: vacuum decay. This experiment opens unprecedented perspectives for understanding the Universe and its fundamental laws.
The study, conducted by an international team, explores the hypothesis that our current Universe could be in a state called "false vacuum," with the potential to collapse into a "true vacuum." Researchers simulated this phenomenon using a quantum simulator, providing unique insight into these processes.
What is false vacuum decay?
False vacuum decay is a theoretical concept in quantum physics suggesting that the Universe we inhabit could be metastable, referred to as a false vacuum. This state, though seemingly stable, could transition to a more stable state, or true vacuum, thereby altering physical laws—from fundamental constants to elementary particles.
This process would involve the localized formation of true vacuum bubbles that expand at the speed of light throughout the Universe, changing its structure. Although this scenario is considered extremely unlikely in the short term, it provides a framework for understanding quantum phase transitions.
The results, published in
Nature Physics, reveal how true vacuum bubbles can form and interact within a false vacuum. These observations are crucial for understanding quantum phase transitions, similar to those that may have occurred shortly after the Big Bang.
The team, led by Professor Zlatko Papic, demonstrated interactions with true vacuum bubbles. These interactions could explain how major cosmic transitions might have occurred in the early Universe. The researchers also emphasize the importance of this work for the development of quantum technologies.
This research marks a significant milestone in using quantum computers to explore fundamental physical phenomena. Scientists hope these tools will help solve other mysteries of the Universe, such as the nature of dark matter or the origin of dark energy. The implications of these discoveries extend far beyond cosmology.
Researchers now plan to expand their simulations to three-dimensional models, which could provide even deeper understanding of the mechanisms at work in the Universe. These advances could also have practical applications, particularly in quantum computing and superconducting materials.