One-dimensional sections of exotic spacetimes with superconducting circuits

Abstract

We introduce analogue quantum simulations of 1 + 1 dimensional sections of exotic 3 + 1 dimensional spacetimes, such as Alcubierre warp-drive spacetime, Gödel rotating universe and Kerr highly-rotating black hole metric. Suitable magnetic flux profiles along a SQUID array embedded in a superconducting transmission line allow to generate an effective spatiotemporal dependence in the speed of light, which is able to mimic the corresponding light propagation in a dimensionally-reduced exotic spacetime. In each case, we discuss the technical constraints and the links with possible chronology protection mechanisms and we find the optimal region of parameters for the experimental implementation.

Light Propagation through Nanophotonics Wormholes

“…Our results enablee as well the interesting possibility of comparing in the laboratory the propagation of light in wormholes and black holes in order to analyse the potential of propagation features as a means of discriminating between them, which have important consequences in gravitational-wave astronomy [16][17][18]. Moreover, we foresee that the techniques explained here could be used as well in other spacetimes of interest, for instance spacetimes with exotic properties [33].…”

Towards Quantum Simulation of Black Holes in a dc-SQUID Array

“…However, to search for situations in which quantum fields are involved, we are compelled to turn instead to quantum simulators, where quantum gravitational effects could, in principle, arise. Some proposals for quantum simulations include traversable wormholes [12,13], and searching for a chronology protection mechanism [14] or other exotic spacetimes, such as warp drives, Gödel spacetimes or extreme Kerr black holes [15]. These simulations can be performed in very different quantum setups, depending on the simulated system or what is expected to be achieved.…”

“…These simulations can be performed in very different quantum setups, depending on the simulated system or what is expected to be achieved. For example, the previously cited simulations were proposed for a Bose-Einstein condensate [12] or a dc-SQUID array [13][14][15]. A simulation of Hawking radiation has been successfully achieved in a laboratory with Bose-Einstein condensates [16], and theoretical proposals with superconducting circuits can be found in the literature [17,18].…”

“…In this work, we followed the procedure of [15], which proposes the simulation of 1 + 1 dimensional sections of exotic spacetimes using a superconducting circuit consisting of a dc-SQUID array embedded in an open microwave transmission line [19][20][21][22]. We took this approach to propose the simulation of several black hole spacetimes, in order of complexity: the Schwarzschild black hole (chargeless and non-rotating), the Reissner-Nordstrøm black hole (charged and non-rotating), the Kerr black hole (chargeless and rotating) and the Kerr-Newman black hole (charged and rotating).…”

Closed timelike curves and chronology protection in quantum and classical simulators

“…Using classical means, processes such as superluminal motion [7] or the formation of an event horizon in a white hole [8] can be simulated. The use of quantum simulators has recently brought results in physical processes of difficult or dubious observation, such as the simulation of a traversable wormhole [9], space-times in which superluminal trips are allowed and even CTCs [10], Hawking radiation [11], magnetic monopoles [12] or tachyonic particles [13]. The nature of each problem makes it necessary to use different types of systems to perform the simulations.…”