Analog quantum simulation of ${\varphi }^4$ field theory with a superconducting transmission line

Abstract

Understanding the dynamics of interacting quantum fields remains a fundamental challenge. We propose a superconducting transmission line for analog quantum simulation of $(1+1)$-dimensional ${\varphi }^4$ field theory. The transmission line comprises fluxonium-like circuit elements whose continuous and unbounded phase variables encode a scalar field without Hilbert-space truncation. Their anharmonic potentials provide strong interactions. Tuning the circuit parameters provides access to two distinct regimes. In the first, the transmission line emulates ${\varphi }^4$ field theory with a single-well potential. We confirm this correspondence through lattice Monte Carlo calculations of the low-energy spectra of both the circuit and lattice ${\varphi }^4$ theory. This regime enables scattering experiments between counter-propagating particle wave packets. The second parameter set yields a double-well potential that emulates ${\varphi }^4$ theory in the symmetry-broken phase and hosts degenerate vacua. Interfaces between the two vacua form topological kinks, and the transmission line can simulate kink-antikink collisions. We present state preparation and measurement protocols for both collision experiments, enabling spatially resolved, real-time studies of particle and soliton scattering in an interacting quantum field theory.

arXiv comment16 pages, 13 figures