Duke quantum simulator observes string breaking and particle formation

September 26, 2026 at 07:00 PM1 min

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Researchers at the Duke Quantum Center used a trapped-ion quantum simulator to observe string breaking dynamics that produce particle-antiparticle pairs. The experiment, published September 23 in Nature Physics, marks one of the earliest demonstrations of its kind in quantum physics.

Key Facts

The study was published September 23 in Nature Physics.
The experiment simulated string breaking, where two connected building blocks of matter are pulled apart until new particles form.
The research was led by Christopher Monroe, Gilhuly Family Presidential Distinguished Professor at Duke.
The collaboration included researchers from the University of Maryland, Oxford University, California Institute of Technology, Cornell University, and KU Leuven.

String Breaking Simulation

The Duke-led team used a trapped-ion quantum platform to reproduce string breaking behavior analogous to processes in high-energy physics. Quantum simulators allow precise control and programming to imitate physical processes at atomic and subatomic scales. The experiment demonstrated how trapped ion quantum computers could explore fundamental questions in physics.

Quark Confinement and Energy

Quarks are fundamental building blocks of matter found inside protons and neutrons, roughly a billion times smaller than an atom. Isolated quarks cannot be directly observed because they normally remain tightly bound together. When connected particles are pulled apart, energy stored in the connection increases until new particle pairs form, as described by E=mc². Such processes require enormous energy and occur only under extreme conditions like those in the Large Hadron Collider or shortly after the Big Bang.