Researchers at the Duke Quantum Center have observed string-breaking dynamics on a trapped-ion quantum computer, providing a controlled experimental platform to investigate particle-antiparticle formation and conditions related to the early universe. Led by faculty at Duke University and published in Nature Physics on September 23, the study joins two separate, recently published studies from independent teams that reproduced similar physics using alternative quantum hardware platforms.
Recreating String Breaking on a Trapped-Ion Quantum Platform
The experiment tackles a phenomenon known as string breaking, where two fundamental building blocks of matter are pulled apart by a taut connection until stored energy becomes massive enough to cause new particles to materialize. Quarks, which are roughly a billion times smaller than an atom, are normally bound tightly inside protons and neutrons and cannot be observed directly. Pulling them apart requires extreme energy levels typically found only inside the Large Hadron Collider or shortly after the Big Bang.
To simulate this process without a particle accelerator, the Duke-led research team programmed a chain of 13 trapped ions. “Working at the intersection of quantum simulation and high-energy physics is incredibly exciting,” said Arinjoy De, first author on the paper, former PhD student in Christopher Monroe’s lab, and now production machine lead at QuEra Computing. Using precisely controlled laser beams, researchers adjusted ion interactions to encode a functional string-breaking model.
Monitoring Out-of-Equilibrium Quantum Systems
The research team prepared the 13-ion system in an out-of-equilibrium state to observe how it evolved over time. This approach allowed the team to detect effective charges and reconstruct the dynamics tied to string breaking. To verify their findings, the investigators ran parallel models on a classical computer. The classical calculations matched the experimental results generated by the quantum simulator.
“Quantum computer simulations provide the best platform to investigate complex questions like matter formation, short of having witnessed the Big Bang itself,” said Christopher Monroe, the Gilhuly Family Presidential Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Physics at Duke, who led the research. Monroe noted that these findings mark a distinct development for the field of quantum science and open new pathways for studying string-breaking dynamics.
Did You Know? According to researchers, mass and energy are directly related through Einstein’s equation $E=mc^2$. When the energy stored in the connection between pulling quarks reaches a critical threshold, the string snaps, creating two or more pairs of particles instead of just one.
International Collaboration and Hardware Benchmarking
The study was executed by an international research group that brought together scientists from the University of Maryland, Oxford University, California Institute of Technology, Cornell University, and KU Leuven. The findings appear alongside two other studies published by separate teams that investigated comparable physics using different quantum computing architectures.
“These are the three platforms leading the charge in quantum computing, so it’s a nice benchmark and comparison for the quantum community,” Monroe stated regarding the parallel releases. While classical computers can currently handle calculations at this 13-ion scale, investigators anticipate that larger future experiments will push past the limits of conventional supercomputers.
Probing the Early Universe Beyond Classical Limits
Scaling up trapped-ion quantum systems could eventually allow scientists to examine physical phenomena that are nearly impossible to replicate directly in a conventional laboratory setting. This includes modeling how matter evolved in the immediate aftermath of the Big Bang.
“As a physicist, it is incredibly exciting to investigate the conditions of the early universe in an atomic-level computing machine,” said Zohreh Davoudi, associate professor of physics at the University of Maryland, who contributed to the study. “Even the slightest insights from an out-of-equilibrium physics model will guide us in the future.” The research received funding support from the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and Amazon Web Services.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is string breaking in high-energy physics?
String breaking occurs when two fundamental constituents of matter, such as quarks, are pulled apart. The energy stored in their connection eventually builds up enough to snap the link, causing new particle-antiparticle pairs to pop into existence.
How did the Duke-led team simulate this process?
The researchers used a chain of 13 trapped ions controlled by precise laser beams to imitate atomic and subatomic scale physics in a laboratory environment.
Which institutions collaborated on this quantum research?
The international research collaboration included Duke University, the University of Maryland, Oxford University, the California Institute of Technology, Cornell University, and KU Leuven.
Why are quantum simulators used instead of classical computers for this work?
While classical computers can handle calculations for small-scale simulations, future scaled-up quantum experiments will allow scientists to investigate complex matter formation processes that exceed the processing power of conventional supercomputers.
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