Simulate complex physical phenomena in quantum physics

physicists working at Innsbruck University and the Quantum Optics and Quantum Information Institute in Innsbruck, Austria, have succeeded in applying digital advances to study phenomena Complex physics through simulation models. For example, simulate the phenomenon of quantum physics. The researchers also realized that in principle, they could effectively simulate any physical phenomenon.

Mathematical description of physical phenomena programmed by using a series of laser pulses to perform a quantum calculation with atoms

The results of this study were published in the journal Science .

Two years ago, the research groups led by Rainer Blatt and Christan Roos from Innsbruck University, Austria, have re-established the properties of a particle moving close to the speed of light in a quantum system. The researchers encoded the states of this particle into an extremely cold calcium atom and used the laser to control it according to the equations proposed by the famous quantum physicist Paul Dirac. Thereby, scientists can simulate the physical phenomenon called Zitterbewegung (trembling motion) of relative particles, which have never been observed directly in nature before.

Currently, physicists use a digital approach instead of the previous approach, and this digital quantum simulation technique, can be programmed to simulate any current effect. Any complicated physical statue. " During the course of this experiment, we found that we could almost reproduce and study many complex physical phenomena on the same system, " said Benjamin Lanyon, working at the Quantum Optics Institute. Quantum and Quantum Information (IQOQI), under the Austrian Academy of Sciences. " When we want to study another phenomenon, we just need to reprogram based on old simulations ."

Physicists at Innsbruck University have used a quantum computer to simulate building blocks. The mathematical description of complex physical phenomena is programmed using a series of laser pulses to perform a quantum calculation with atoms.

Under the influence of a series of laser pulses, extremely cold calcium atoms will be charged, acting as particles carrying quantum bits (qubits) . " We want to encode the initial states of the system, to study the quantum bits (qubits) and the settings generated by the effects of laser pulses ," explained Christian Roos.

Roos and colleagues demonstrated this method in two experiments at Innsbruck University and the Quantum Optics and Quantum Information Institute, in Innsbruck using up to 100 communication ports and 6 qubits. " One of the results of the new study is to simulate the processes of interaction and dynamics that in fact even these processes do not really appear in quantum computers, " said Benjamin Lanyon. .

Lanyon believes that this will be one of the most promising applications of a quantum computer in the future. " However, we still need a significantly higher number of quantum bits. This means we need to control and manipulate up to 40 atoms, in exactly the same way as we do. did in this experiment, "added Lanyon.

Physical phenomena, often described by equations, can be too complicated to solve. In this case, researchers use simulation models on computers to quickly answer questions.

Because this strategy is not feasible even for relatively small quantum systems due to the limitations of classical computer processing speed, American physicist, Richard Feynman, has proposed simulations. These complex physical phenomena are on experimental quantum computer systems. In 1996, theorist Seth Lloyd confirmed the feasibility of this method that quantum computers can be effectively programmed to simulate any physical phenomenon. A prerequisite for this approach is to have complete control over the technology and simulated setup.

This was done by a team of researchers, led by Rainer Blatt, working on quantum computers over the past few years. Based on this foundation, physicists have for the first time successfully piloted a quantum simulation.

This study is supported by the Austrian Science Foundation, the European Union (EU) and the Austrian Federation of Tyrol Industries.