Scientists are pushing the boundaries of our understanding of the universe with new discoveries in quantum physics and cosmology. In Spain, researchers have used IBM quantum computers to simulate particle creation in an expanding universe, while another team has analyzed gravitational waves from black hole mergers, potentially revealing hidden asymmetries in the cosmos.
The study published in Scientific Reports, led by Marco Díaz Maceda from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, demonstrates the digital quantum simulation of quantum field theory for curved spacetime (QFTCS). QFTCS treats matter and force fields quantum mechanically while maintaining spacetime as a classical background described by general relativity. This approach allows physicists to study quantum effects in curved spacetime without needing a complete theory of quantum gravity.
The researchers successfully simulated particle creation in expanding spacetime, with results matching theoretical predictions. They used a quantum circuit designed to simulate the process using IBM's 127-qubit Eagle processor, starting with the universe in a vacuum state and implementing the circuit for particle creation. The researchers encoded the quantum field states to actual physical qubits, each corresponding to the four excitation levels of the system.
Meanwhile, a team led by Juan Calderón Bustillo from the University of Santiago de Compostela has analyzed gravitational waves from 47 black hole mergers. They found that while most mergers do not exhibit a preference for left- or right-handed polarization, one event, designated GW200129, did break mirror symmetry. This suggests that some black hole mergers may have precessing orbital planes, potentially impacting our understanding of the universe's large-scale behavior.
These findings could have far-reaching implications for cosmology and the unification of general relativity and quantum physics. The team believes that mirror asymmetric mergers could produce a net emission of polarized photons from the quantum vacuum, similar to Hawking radiation. Their research, published in Physical Review Letters, highlights the potential of both quantum simulations and gravitational wave observations to unveil new insights into the fundamental workings of the universe.