They simulate the end of the universe with a quantum computer

Half a century ago, a series of toe research in quantum theory of fields reached an extraordinary conclusion: the universe could be caught in a ‘false emptiness’, a state that seems stable, but that is not, since it would actually be on the edge of a transition to a state of ‘true emptiness’ much more stable. It would be like a ball still motionless on the edge of a pronounced slope, but about to roll for it. A ‘false’ stability that will only be true when the ball, indeed, is definitely stopped in the background.

Of course, this process would trigger catastrophic changes in the structure of the universe, which would cease to exist as we know it. But it is very difficult to predict when that change of state will happen, or know if it could have already begun, in which case the destruction would have already begun to spread somewhere. However, even if that were the case, experts believe that at the moment we can be calm, and agree that it is most likely that total destruction needs a greatly extensive period, on a human scale, to complete. A period of ‘continuous destruction’ that would extend along hundreds or even billions of years before consuming our reality completely.

The disintegration of the false vacuum

Now, in an article recently published in ‘Nature Physics‘, an international collaboration between three research centers led by Zlatko Papic, from the British University of Leeds, and Jaka Vode a process linked to the origin of the universe and also to the behavior of the subatomic particles that compose it.

“We are talking about a process by which the universe would completely change its structure,” says Papic. The fundamental constants could change instantaneously and the world as we know it would collapse as a castle of cards. What we really need are controlled experiments to observe this process and determine their time scales ».

The main objective of the study was to discover and understand the fundamental mechanism that triggers the disintegration of the false vacuum. And for this the researchers used the latest in quantum technology, a ‘quantum recovery’ of 5,564 cubits, a quantum computer that allows complex optimization problems to be solved, in which the goal is to find the best among a set of possible different solutions .

In their article, researchers explain how they used the machine to imitate the behavior of bubbles in a false emptiness, which are similar to liquid bubbles that are formed in water vapor. The formation, interaction and spread of these bubbles in the universe would be the trigger for disintegration.

«This phenomenon-explains co-authors Jean-Yves Desaules, of the Institute of Science and Technology of Austria (ista)-is comparable to a roller coaster that has several valleys throughout its trajectory, but only a ‘true’ lowest state , at soil level. If that is really the case, quantum mechanics would allow the universe to eventually tune the lowest energy state or ‘true’ emptiness, and that process would result in a catastrophic global event ».

The ‘quantum recounting’

The ‘quantum collector’ allowed scientists to observe the intricate ‘dance’ of bubbles, which includes how they form and interact, in real time. And the observations revealed that this dynamic is not an isolated event, but involves complex interactions, including how smaller bubbles can influence the largest. The researchers say that their findings provide new knowledge about how such transitions could have happened shortly after the Big Bang.

In the words of ViceB, “by taking advantage of the capabilities of a great ‘quantum recovery”, our team has opened the door to the study of quantum systems outside the balance and phase transitions that would otherwise be difficult to explore with traditional computing methods ” .

Physicists have wondered for a long time if the process of disintegration of the false vacuum could really happen and, if so, how long it would take. However, so far there have been few advances, due to the little manageable mathematical nature of the quantum field theory.

Therefore, and instead of continuing to try to solve these complex mathematical problems, Papic and their team pointed to other simpler objectives, which can be studied using the latest devices and applications available. In this way, scientists were able to simulate and directly observe the dynamics of the disintegration of the false vacuum at a cosmic scale.

Simulating disaster

The experiment consisted of placing 5,564 cubits, the elementary construction blocks of quantum computing, in specific configurations that represent the false vacuum. Carefully controlling the system, the researchers managed to launch the transition from false to true void, reflecting the formation of bubbles as described by the theory of disintegration of the false emptiness. The study used a one -dimensional model, but it is believed to be possible 3D versions in the same ‘recoveryr’.

“We are trying to develop systems where we can perform simple experiments to study this type of thing,” says Papic. The time scales for these processes to occur in the universe are enormous, but the use of the ‘recoveryr’ allows us to observe them in real time, so that we really see what is happening. This exciting work, which combines quantum simulation of avant -garde with deep theoretical physics, shows how close we are to solve some of the greatest mysteries in the universe ».

Beyond its importance for cosmology, researchers believe that study has practical implications for the progress of quantum computing. In fact, understanding bubble interactions in the false vacuum could lead to improvements in the way in which quantum systems handle errors and perform complex calculations, which will help them to be much more efficient.

In ViceB’s words, “these advances not only expand the limits of scientific knowledge, but also pave the way for future technologies that could revolutionize fields such as cryptography, material science and low consumption computing.”