Objective Quantum field theories, quantum systems with an infinite number of degrees of freedom, present the most subtle and complex systems in physics. At the same time, the study of quantum field theory has provided us with some of the most powerful theoretical tools to study many particle quantum systems. Many of the major insights in this theory have been obtained using the powerful technology of perturbation theory, whereas a main source of nonperturbative results has been lattice gauge theory. The variational principle has not met with as much systematic success in explaining these systems due to the dearth of good variational wavefunctions.In condensed matter physics we have recently witnessed tremendous progress, spurred by developments in quantum information theory, in understanding the properties of physical states of strongly interacting many particle quantum systems. This has culminated in the realisation that the physics of low-dimensional systems is well captured by variational classes known as matrix product states, projected entangled-pair states, and the multiscale entanglement renormalisation ansatz. Very recently a continuum generalisation of the matrix product state variational class has been developed which promises to afford, via the variational principle, new insights into the behaviour of strongly interacting quantum field theory.The purpose of this proposal is to: (a) understand how to use the variational principle to simulate the dynamics, both imaginary and real-time, of (1+1)- and higher-dimensional quantum field theories within the continuum matrix product state variational class; (b) extend the recent theoretical advances in the field of locally interacting quantum spin systems to study the correlation structure of equilibrium and non-equilibrium quantum fields; and (c) relate the developed formalism to cavity QED and hence develop experimental proposals to simulate strongly interacting quantum field theories with cavity QED systems. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencesquantum physicsquantum field theory Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-SG-PE2 - ERC Starting Grant - Fundamental constituents of matter Call for proposal ERC-2011-StG_20101014 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Coordinator GOTTFRIED WILHELM LEIBNIZ UNIVERSITAET HANNOVER Address Welfengarten 1 30167 Hannover Germany See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments projects.principal_investigator Tobias Osborne (Prof.) projects.administrative_contact Elke Buchholz (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution € 1 343 219,10 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all GOTTFRIED WILHELM LEIBNIZ UNIVERSITAET HANNOVER Germany EU contribution € 1 343 219,10 Address Welfengarten 1 30167 Hannover See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments projects.principal_investigator Tobias Osborne (Prof.) projects.administrative_contact Elke Buchholz (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window
