An international team led by Peter Zoller (University of Innsbruck), working with QuEra Computing, has achieved something remarkable: they’ve observed string breaking (a key concept from particle physics) inside a two-dimensional analog quantum simulator for the first time.

This is a big step for the PASQuanS2 community. The experiment successfully mimicked a gauge theory that describes strong interactions between particles, like those in quantum chromodynamics (QCD). What’s especially exciting is that the team was able to watch the dynamics of this process unfold in real time.

The setup used rubidium atoms arranged in a Kagome pattern and took advantage of the unique properties of Rydberg atoms and van der Waals interactions. These make it possible to recreate effects similar to what happens between quarks in high-energy physics, something that’s incredibly hard to observe directly in nature.

This work builds on years of theoretical and experimental progress, including earlier 1D simulations. Moving to two dimensions opens the door to even more complex and realistic studies of gauge theories in quantum simulators.

The results were published in Nature and mark a major success for the broader PASQuanS2 mission, which focuses on pushing the boundaries of programmable quantum systems in Europe.

This is a huge success for everyone involved in PASQuanS2. Make sure to read the full paper!