Project description
New phases of matter arising from emerging quantum technologies
Quantum systems out of equilibrium are fascinating but notoriously difficult to simulate on classical computers. This is due to the complexity of quantum entanglement, where particles become interconnected in ways that make their states dependent on each other. The result is an exponential growth in complexity as the system size increases. While large-scale quantum computing is still a long-term goal, current noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices hold promise for many-body physics. The ERC-funded QUANTHEM project will characterise new phases of matter exclusive to NISQ platforms. QUANTHEM will use artificial models like quantum circuits (which simulate how qubits evolve through gates) and quantum cellular automata (systems where quantum states evolve in a structured way) to better understand phases of matter emerging in quantum systems.
Objective
The exceptional features of many-body quantum systems out of equilibrium are intimately connected with the intrinsic limitations we face when simulating their dynamics on a classical computer, as both are a consequence of the fact that quantum matter is entangled. Digital quantum simulators, or quantum computers, promise to overcome these limitations. However, in the current era of Noisy-Intermediate-Scale-Quantum (NISQ) devices, large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computation is out of reach, making full-fledged quantum simulation an ambitious long-term goal. Still, NISQ devices already provide new horizons and opportunities for fundamental research in many-body physics. Indeed, in their native hardware, they can be conceptualized as qubit systems evolving by discrete gates, measurements, and feedback, giving rise to completely new collective behavior and universal phenomena. This project has the ambitious goal of finding and theoretically characterizing new phases of matter which are exclusive to NISQ platforms, charting their largely unexplored phenomenology and possibilities. Taking on a fundamental perspective, at the intersection of many-body physics and quantum information theory, we will pursue this goal based on the study of synthetic models of quantum circuits and quantum cellular automata (QCA). The target results of this project include: (i) Prediction of new dynamical phases arising thanks to the building blocks of NISQ technology and identification of protocols to observe them in existing platforms; (ii) Deeper understanding of topical but hard problems in many-body physics out of equilibrium, made possible by the simplifying minimal structure of quantum-circuit and QCA models. The proposed research is expected to stimulate new synergies between different communities, reflecting the dual nature and interdisciplinary interest of NISQ devices, being both early prototypes for quantum computers and experimental platforms for many-body physics.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project has not yet been classified with EuroSciVoc.
Be the first one to suggest relevant scientific fields and help us improve our classification service
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2023-STG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
40126 Bologna
Italy
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.