Chiral Symmetry breaking with Quantum Algorithms

In this multidisciplinary project we will study the phenomenon of chiral symmetry breaking with quantum simulators and quantum-inspired algorithms like tensor-network variational ansätse.
Chiral-symmetry breaking [1], the dynamical creation of a mass term for fermions, is at the hearth of strongly coupled gauge theories like quantum chromodynamics (QCD) and it is believed to arise from color confinement [2], although the precise relation between the two is not fully understood [3].
We plan to investigate the origin of chiral symmetry breaking by using Hamiltonian lattice gauge theory [4] on quantum simulators [5]. The lattice formulation turns the gauge theory into a synthetic quantum material to be realized in ancillary quantum systems.

Quantum simulators and quantum-inspired algorithms are not hindered by the sign problem like quantum Montecarlo, and promise to be more efficient energetically than traditional large-scale classical computation.

We will start investigating quantum electrodynamics in 3 spacetime dimensions with multiple flavors. We will combine recently developed resource-efficient formulations of lattice gauge theories [6] with effective chiral field theories [7] and mathematical tools [8] to unravel the inner dynamics of the confinement process.

[1] H. Sazdjian, “Introduction to chiral symmetry in QCD”, EPJ Web Conf., 137 (2017) 02001.
[2] S. Coleman and E. Witten, Phys. Rev. Lett. 45, 100 (1980)
[3] S. Scherer, Adv.Nucl.Phys. 27 (2003).
[4] J. Kogut and L. Susskind, Phys. Rev. D 11, 395 (1975).
[5] M. Lewenstein, A. Sanpera, V. Ahufinger, “Ultracold Atoms in Optical Lattices: Simulating quantum many-body Systems”, Oxford University Press, 2012.
[6] P. Fontana, M. Miranda-Riaza, and A. Celi, Phys. Rev. X 15, 031065 (2025).
[7] P. Bickert, P. Masjuan, S. Scherer, Phys.Rev.D 95 (2017) 5, 054023.
[8] P. Masjuan, P. Sanchez-Puertas, Phys.Rev.D 95 (2017) 5, 054026.

Degree in Physics, Mathematics, or Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.

Master in one of these areas:

• High Energy Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology.
• Photonics.
• Quantum Science and Technology.

SGR 00649 focuses on Particle Physics: Standard Model (SM), Beyond the Standard Model, and Astroparticles and Cosmology. We focus on improving the determination of fundamental SM parameters based on Effective Field Theories and Mathematical Models. This allows us to explore anomalies in the flavor sector, using as well as amplitude methods. We also contribute to understanding the role of particle physics in the early universe with data related to gravitational waves and dark matter.

A. Celi is a member of the SGR 2021 00138 (Òptica).
He works on simulators at the interface between condensed-matter and high-energy physics. He currently supervises 3 PhD students and one postdoc, and tutorizes an Industrial PhD on quantum sensing with ultracold atoms (IDEAD). The Optics group currently involves other two senior members and 3 lectors, active in polarimetry (experimental), quantum communication (experimental), and quantum computation and atomtronics (theory).