Project description
Unbiased construction and observation of quantum phase transitions
Quantum technologies and physics have seen increasing interest and innovation in recent years, leading to the development and research of quantum computing solutions, among other fields. A key part of these efforts is the study of quantum phase transitions, a major challenge in modern physics. To date, theoretical developments have led to the observation of many conformal transitions, but we have seen few observations of non-conformal ones. The ERC-funded TRANGINEER project will develop an innovative methodology for the unbiased construction of quantum phase transitions. The project will build on recent progress in constrained tensor network algorithms to numerically engineer novel quantum criticalities in the models that can be realised in available and near-future quantum simulators.
Objective
Understanding quantum phase transitions is one of the biggest challenges in modern physics, stimulating numerous exciting developments in theoretical, experimental, and numerical physics. Perhaps, the most remarkable, was the invention of conformal field theory, responsible for many exact predictions. This paved the way for numerical and experimental observations of many of these transitions forming, however, a misleading impression that almost all quantum transitions in nature are conformal. But is this imbalance real, or are many exciting non-conformal transitions currently overlooked due to the limitations of our theoretical toolbox?
In this proposal, I aim to develop a methodology for the unbiased construction of quantum phase transitions. Recent years have been marked by tremendous progress in non-perturbative computational methods. The invention of constrained tensor networks fully profiting from Rydberg blockade for the first time provides sufficient accuracy to predict novel types of quantum phase transitions. With such a powerful tool at hand, I aim to develop a numerical approach to engineer novel quantum criticalities in experimentally realizable models of Rydberg atoms. Implemented directly on a lattice, my method will not rely on the available field-theoretic description of the transitions and, by construction, will have no bias towards conformal ones, opening a way for systematic study of non-conformal transitions and breaking a new ground in fundamental physics.
By focusing directly on the effective models of Rydberg atoms I open a path for immediate experimental validation of my future predictions. This proposal benefits from the latest technological advances and will provide a timely theory guidance for future experiments. My study will be an important step towards synthesising novel quantum critical phenomena directly in quantum simulators.
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.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering computer hardware quantum computers
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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)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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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.
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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
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) ERC-2025-STG
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OX1 2JD Oxford
United Kingdom
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