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Experimental quantum simulation of fermion-antifermion scattering via boson exchange in a trapped ion

Author

Listed:
  • Xiang Zhang

    (Tsinghua University
    Renmin University of China)

  • Kuan Zhang

    (Tsinghua University)

  • Yangchao Shen

    (Tsinghua University)

  • Shuaining Zhang

    (Tsinghua University)

  • Jing-Ning Zhang

    (Tsinghua University)

  • Man-Hong Yung

    (Tsinghua University
    Southern University of Science and Technology of China
    Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Quantum Science and Engineering)

  • Jorge Casanova

    (Universität Ulm)

  • Julen S. Pedernales

    (University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU)

  • Lucas Lamata

    (University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU)

  • Enrique Solano

    (University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU
    Basque Foundation for Science
    Shanghai University)

  • Kihwan Kim

    (Tsinghua University)

Abstract

Quantum field theories describe a variety of fundamental phenomena in physics. However, their study often involves cumbersome numerical simulations. Quantum simulators, on the other hand, may outperform classical computational capacities due to their potential scalability. Here we report an experimental realization of a quantum simulation of fermion–antifermion scattering mediated by bosonic modes, using a multilevel trapped ion, which is a simplified model of fermion scattering in both perturbative and non-perturbative quantum electrodynamics. The simulated model exhibits prototypical features in quantum field theory including particle pair creation and annihilation, as well as self-energy interactions. These are experimentally observed by manipulating four internal levels of a 171Yb+ trapped ion, where we encode the fermionic modes, and two motional degrees of freedom that simulate the bosonic modes. Our experiment establishes an avenue towards the efficient implementation of field modes, which may prove useful in studies of quantum field theories including non-perturbative regimes.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiang Zhang & Kuan Zhang & Yangchao Shen & Shuaining Zhang & Jing-Ning Zhang & Man-Hong Yung & Jorge Casanova & Julen S. Pedernales & Lucas Lamata & Enrique Solano & Kihwan Kim, 2018. "Experimental quantum simulation of fermion-antifermion scattering via boson exchange in a trapped ion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-02507-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02507-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Yasar Y. Atas & Jinglei Zhang & Randy Lewis & Amin Jahanpour & Jan F. Haase & Christine A. Muschik, 2021. "SU(2) hadrons on a quantum computer via a variational approach," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.

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