We numerically compute renormalized expectation values of quadratic operators in a quantum field theory (QFT) of free Dirac fermions in curved two-dimensional (Lorentzian) spacetime. First, we use a staggered-fermion discretization to generate a sequence of lattice theories yielding the desired QFT in the continuum limit. Numerically-computed lattice correlators are then used to approximate, through extrapolation, those in the continuum. Finally, we use so-called point-splitting regularization and Hadamard renormalization to remove divergences, and thus obtain finite, renormalized expectation values of quadratic operators in the continuum. As illustrative applications, we show how to recover the Unruh effect in flat spacetime and how to compute renormalized expectation values in the Hawking-Hartle vacuum of a Schwarzschild black hole and in the Bunch-Davies vacuum of an expanding universe described by de Sitter spacetime. Although here we address a non-interacting QFT using free fermion techniques, the framework described in this paper lays the groundwork for a series of subsequent studies involving simulation of interacting QFTs in curved spacetime by tensor network techniques.
We numerically compute renormalized expectation values of quadratic operators in a quantum field theory (QFT) of free Dirac fermions in curved two-dimensional (Lorentzian) spacetime. First, we use a staggered-fermion discretization to generate a sequence of lattice theories yielding the desired QFT in the continuum limit. Numerically-computed lattice correlators are then used to approximate, through extrapolation, those in the continuum. Finally, we use so-called point-splitting regularization and Hadamard renormalization to remove divergences, and thus obtain finite, renormalized expectation values of quadratic operators in the continuum. As illustrative applications, we show how to recover the Unruh effect in flat spacetime and how to compute renormalized expectation values in the Hawking-Hartle vacuum of a Schwarzschild black hole and in the Bunch-Davies vacuum of an expanding universe described by de Sitter spacetime. Although here we address a non-interacting QFT using free fermion techniques, the framework described in this paper lays the groundwork for a series of subsequent studies involving simulation of interacting QFTs in curved spacetime by tensor network techniques.
A quantum computer, i.e. utilizing the resources of quantum physics, superposition of states and entanglement, could furnish an exponential gain in computing time. A simulation using such resources is called a quantum simulation. The advantage of quantum simulations over classical ones is well established at the theoretical, i.e. software level. Their practical benefit requires their implementation on a quantum hardware. The quantum computer, i.e. the universal one (see below), has not seen the light of day yet, but the efforts in this direction are both growing and diverse. Also, quantum simulation has already been illustrated by numerous experimental proofs of principle, thanks too small-size and specific-task quantum computers or simulators. Quantum walks are particularly-studied quantum-simulation schemes, being elementary bricks to conceive any quantum algorithm, i.e. to achieve so-called universal quantum computation. The present thesis is a step more towards a simulation of quantum field theories based on discrete-time quantum walks (DTQWs). Indeed, it is shown, in certain cases, how DTQWs can simulate, in the continuum, the action of Yang-Mills gauge fields on fermionic matter, and the retroaction of the latter on the gauge-field dynamics. The suggested schemes preserve gauge invariance on the spacetime lattice, i.e. not only in the continuum. In the (1+2)-dimensional Abelian case, consistent lattice equivalents to both Maxwell's equations and the current conservation are suggested. In the (1+1)-dimensional non-Abelian case, a lattice version of the non-Abelian field strength is suggested. Moreover, it is shown how this fermionic matter based on DTQWs can be coupled to relativistic gravitational fields of the continuum, i.e. to curved spacetimes, in 1+2 dimensions.
We demonstrate that a quantum field theory (QFT) in general two-dimensional curved spacetimes can be realized by a system of quantum spins or qubits. We consider a spin-1/2 model on a one-dimensional ring with spatially and temporally varying exchange couplings and magnetic fields. This model reduces to a QFT of Majorana fermions in the continuum limit. From this correspondence, we establish a dictionary for translating between the spacetime-dependent parameters of the spin model and the general metric on which the QFT is defined. After addressing the general case, we consider the Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) metric as a simple example. According to the dictionary, the QFT of Majorana fermions on the FLRW metric corresponds to the Ising model with a time-dependent transverse magnetic field. We demonstrate that the production of Majorana particles in the expanding universe can be simulated with the transverse-field Ising model by increasing the strength of the magnetic field. Furthermore, we examine the Unruh effect through the spin system by using our prescription and show the direct relation between the entanglement (or modular) Hamiltonian in the spin system and the Rindler Hamiltonian. This approach provides an experimentally viable system for probing various phenomena in QFT within curved spacetime, while also opening the door to uncovering nontrivial phenomena in spin systems inspired by curved spacetime physics. It offers fresh perspectives on both QFT in curved spacetimes and quantum many-body spin systems, revealing profound connections between these fields.
Quantum field theory (QFT) in curved spacetime has led to profound predictions, including the Unruh effect and Hawking radiation, yet their direct observation remains extraordinarily challenging because of their extremely weak signatures. Here, we show that the transverse-field Ising model provides a quantum simulator for Majorana fermions in a Schwarzschild black hole background. Remarkably, different coordinate representations of the same spacetime-Schwarzschild, tortoise, Kruskal, and conformally flat-map onto distinct microscopic Ising spin models. Despite their microscopic differences, these models converge in the continuum limit to the same Majorana field theory, exhibiting an emergent form of general covariance. This provides a rare example of a fundamental symmetry of general relativity arising as an emergent property of a condensed matter system. We further demonstrate how black hole particle production can be simulated and detected through spin correlation measurements, and discuss experimental platforms capable of realizing these models. Our work establishes a practical route for investigating fermionic QFT in curved spacetime using controllable quantum many-body systems and tabletop experiments.
Simulating the real-time dynamics of quantum field theories (QFTs) is one of the most promising applications of quantum simulators. Regularizing a bosonic QFT for quantum simulation purposes typically involves a truncation in Hilbert space in addition to a discretization of space. Here, we discuss how to perform such a regularization of scalar QFTs by explicitly constructing suitable many-body lattice Hamiltonians using multilevel or qudit systems and show that this enables quantitative predictions in the continuum limit by extrapolating results obtained for large-spin models. With extensive matrix-product-state simulations, we numerically demonstrate the sequence of extrapolations that leads to quantitative agreement of observables for the integrable sine-Gordon (sG) QFT. We further show how to prepare static and moving-soliton excitations and we analyze their scattering dynamics in the continuum limit, in agreement with a semiclassical model and with quantitative analytical predictions. Finally, we illustrate how a nonintegrable perturbation of the sG model gives rise to dynamics reminiscent of string breaking and plasma oscillations in gauge theories. Our methods are directly applicable in state-of-the-art analog quantum simulators, opening the door to quantitatively investigating a wide variety of scalar-field theories and tackling long-standing questions in nonequilibrium QFT such as the fate of the false vacuum.
We give the definitive proof that the Dirac Quantum Cellular Automaton (QCA) used for both quantum simulation and algorithmic foundations of Quantum Field Theory (QFT), and especially of Quantum Electrodynamics (QED), as put forward in References https://doi.org/10.1007/s11128-019-2555-4 and https://doi.org/10.22331/q-2023-11-08-1179, does exhibit Fermion Doubling (FD), albeit thrice as less severe as discrete-time standard Lattice Gauge Theories (LGTs) [arXiv:2505.0790], which are naive regarding the spacetime discretization of differential operators acting on fermionic fields. The proof is done for the (1 + 1)D Dirac-QCA model. We show that the (one-time-step) two-point correlation function, also called Green's function (GF), of the Dirac QCA, is of astonishing simplicity, which is in contrast with the GF of the Dirac equation. We also compare, both qualitatively and quantitatively, this Dirac QCA to the continuous-time-LGT spatial discretization of Dirac fermions regarding how well these two lattice models approximate their naive continuum limit$\unicode{x2014}$which is nothing but the Dirac equation$\unicode{x2014}$even when far away from that limit, a situation which must be considered because of experimental limitations in quantum simulation: the Dirac QCA is better for ultrarelativistic regimes, whereas continuous-time LGT is better for non-relativistic regimes. Then, we compute the GF of the FD-fixed model put forward in the last cited reference, called Flavored Dirac QCA (FDQCA)$\unicode{x2014}$which staggers an extra, artificial flavor only, on a diamond spacetime lattice, and does not stagger chirality as staggered fermions in usual LGT. The structure of this FDQCA two-point correlation function is of extreme simplicity, and can be expressed in a very simple manner in terms of the four chiral components of the FD-suffering, original-model GF.
Many quantum lattice models have an emergent relativistic description in their continuum limit. The celebrated example is graphene, whose continuum limit is described by the Dirac equation on a Minkowski spacetime. Not only does the continuum limit provide us with a dictionary of geometric observables to describe the models with, but it also allows one to solve models that were otherwise analytically intractable. In this thesis, we investigate novel features of this relativistic description for a range of quantum lattice models. In particular, we demonstrate how to generate emergent curved spacetimes and identify observables at the lattice level which reveal this emergent behaviour, allowing one to simulate relativistic effects in the laboratory. We first study carbon nanotubes, a system with an edge, which allows us to test the interesting feature of the Dirac equation that it allows for bulk states with support on the edges of the system. We then study Kitaev's honeycomb model which has a continuum limit describing Majorana spinors on a Minkowski spacetime. We show how to generate a non-trivial metric in the continuum limit of this model and how to observe the effects of this metric and its corresponding curvature in the lattice observables, such as Majorana correlators, Majorana zero modes and the spin densities. We also discuss how lattice defects and Z2 gauge fields at the lattice level can generate chiral gauge fields in the continuum limit and we reveal their adiabatic equivalence. Finally, we discuss a chiral modification of the 1D XY model which makes the model interacting and introduces a non-trivial phase diagram. We see that this generates a black hole metric in the continuum limit, where the inside and outside of the black hole are in different phases. We then demonstrate that by quenching this model we can simulate Hawking radiation.