QSim-NPQ | J1-70063
Quantum simulators provide a new way to investigate complex quantum systems whose dynamics rapidly become inaccessible to conventional numerical methods. QSim-NPQ combines experiments on analogue quantum devices with advanced numerical simulations and theoretical analysis to study fundamental non-equilibrium phenomena in quantum physics.
Project information
Duration: 1 March 2026–28 February 2029
Project type: Basic Research Project – Dr Aleš Debeljak Programme
Funding organisation: Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency – ARIS
Project code: J1-70063
Project acronym: QSim-NPQ
Coordinating organisation: Jožef Stefan Institute
Project partner: Center of Excellence in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology – Nanocenter
Project leader: Dr Jaka Vodeb
Contact: jaka.vodeb@ijs.si
Funding framework: 2,825 annual research hours, cost category C, corresponding to 1.66 FTE
The project was selected for three years of funding under the ARIS Public Call for the Co-financing of Research Projects in 2025.
Project description
Simulating the dynamics of interacting quantum systems is one of the major challenges of modern physics. The number of possible quantum configurations grows exponentially with system size, severely restricting direct classical simulations, particularly for long-time dynamics and two-dimensional systems.
QSim-NPQ investigates whether current analogue quantum platforms can provide useful scientific insight into such problems. The project uses quantum annealers, programmable arrays of Rydberg atoms and tensor-network methods to study three classes of non-equilibrium quantum phenomena:
- false-vacuum decay and metastable dynamics in two dimensions;
- geometrically frustrated correlated electrons in the quantum material 1T-TaS₂;
- symmetry breaking, defect formation and coarsening during quantum phase transitions.
The quantum-device results will be compared with controlled numerical calculations wherever such calculations remain feasible. This benchmarking is essential for determining what the devices reproduce accurately, how noise and hardware limitations affect the results, and whether quantum simulators can access system sizes or time scales beyond established classical approaches.
By combining quantum experiments, numerical emulation and theoretical analysis, the project aims to improve our understanding of metastability, tunnelling, geometric frustration, quantum many-body scars, the Kibble–Zurek mechanism and quantum coarsening.
Scientific objectives
O1. Two-dimensional false-vacuum decay
Investigate the nucleation, growth and interaction of stable-vacuum bubbles inside a metastable state using a quantum annealer.
The project will:
- implement two-dimensional transverse-field Ising models on quantum annealing hardware;
- identify resonances and tunnelling processes governing vacuum decay;
- benchmark the quantum simulations using tensor-network calculations;
- develop a theoretical framework for the observed bubble dynamics.
O2. Quantum simulation of correlated-electron quantum billiards
Use programmable Rydberg-atom arrays to emulate geometric frustration and interference patterns observed in triangular structures formed in the quantum material 1T-TaS₂.
The project will:
- design Rydberg-atom geometries corresponding to frustrated electronic structures;
- investigate whether the constrained dynamics support quantum many-body scars;
- study the influence of noise and decoherence;
- connect quantum-simulator results with observations in a real quantum material.
O3. Symmetry-breaking dynamics across quantum phase transitions
Study how ordered domains and defects form when quantum systems are driven through a phase transition.
The project will:
- investigate chains, ladders and two-dimensional lattices;
- test Kibble–Zurek scaling in the presence of a symmetry-breaking field;
- study the crossover from non-adiabatic to adiabatic dynamics;
- determine the role of quantum coarsening in higher-dimensional systems;
- benchmark annealer experiments against tensor-network simulations.
These objectives correspond directly to the three principal scientific challenges defined in the project proposal.
Work packages
WP1. Project management and open science
WP1 covers project coordination, reporting, research-data management and implementation of FAIR principles. The project website, data-management plan, annual reports and final report are coordinated within this work package.
WP2. False-vacuum decay in two dimensions
WP2 studies metastable-to-stable transitions using quantum annealers, tensor-network simulations and theoretical analysis. Its principal output will be a validated description of bubble nucleation, growth, interactions and resonant dynamics in two-dimensional quantum systems.
WP3. Rydberg-atom simulation of correlated-electron quantum billiards
WP3 develops programmable atomic structures that emulate geometric frustration in 1T-TaS₂. It investigates interference patterns, constrained Hilbert spaces, quantum many-body scars and the influence of noise on non-equilibrium dynamics.
WP4. Symmetry-breaking dynamics of a quantum phase transition
WP4 investigates the dynamics of quantum phase transitions on different lattice geometries. It focuses on Kibble–Zurek scaling, adiabatic evolution, defect formation and quantum coarsening, supported by comparisons between quantum annealers and tensor-network methods.
WP5. Communication, dissemination and outreach
WP5 covers scientific publications, conference presentations, seminars, international networking, student engagement, public communication and contributions to strategic discussions concerning quantum science and technology.
The full project contains ten scientific milestones and eight formal deliverables distributed across the five work packages.
Project team
Principal investigator
- J. Vodeb
Project researchers
- D. Mihailović
- R. Žitko
- I. Vaskivskyi
- Y. Vaskivskyi
- M. Rupnik
- A. Mraz
- G. Lagnese
- Z. Lenarčič
- G. Humar
Scientific collaboration network
The project builds on collaboration with researchers and groups at:
- University of Leeds;
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria;
- University of Padova;
- Jagiellonian University;
- Forschungszentrum Jülich.
Research infrastructure
The project uses a combination of quantum and classical computational resources:
- quantum annealers for large-scale transverse-field Ising simulations;
- programmable Rydberg-atom quantum simulators;
- high-performance classical computing infrastructure;
- tensor-network and open-quantum-system simulation methods.
Access to quantum devices is provided through European quantum-computing infrastructures and commercial cloud platforms. Classical calculations are performed using computational infrastructure available to the participating research groups.
Expected results
The project is expected to produce:
- at least three major scientific manuscripts corresponding to the principal research objectives;
- validated quantum-simulation protocols;
- comparisons between quantum-device experiments and classical numerical methods;
- openly accessible preprints and scientific publications;
- reusable research data and analysis software, where legally and technically possible;
- conference presentations, invited seminars and public-outreach activities;
- training opportunities for doctoral, master’s and undergraduate students.
Publications and preprints
G. Humar, J.-Y. Desaules, L. Pavešić, M. Ljubotina, Z. Papić, K. Michielsen and J. Vodeb,
“Resonant false vacuum decay in two dimensions on a 4000-qubit quantum annealer,”
arXiv:2606.25889, submitted 24 June 2026.
Project area: two-dimensional false-vacuum decay; WP2.
F. A. Bayocboc Jr., J. Dziarmaga, M. M. Rams and J. Vodeb,
“Post-Critical Meson Dynamics of Kibble–Zurek Excitations in a 5,564-Qubit Quantum Annealer,”
arXiv:2607.13842, submitted 15 July 2026.
Project area: symmetry-breaking dynamics and quantum phase transitions; WP4.
Open data and software
Post-Critical Meson Dynamics of Kibble–Zurek Excitations
Quantum-annealer measurements, matrix-product-state simulation results and the scripts used to generate the figures are openly available through Zenodo.
Repository: Zenodo
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21339733
Related publication: arXiv:2607.13842
Project documents
- Communication Plan, version 1.0 — Slovenian, PDF
- Research Data Management Plan — to be added
- Annual project reports — to be added where public
- Final project report — to be added after project completion
News, events and outreach
1 March 2026 — QSim-NPQ project launched
The ARIS-funded project Quantum Simulation of Non-equilibrium Phenomena on Quantum Devices officially began on 1 March 2026. The three-year project uses quantum annealers, Rydberg-atom arrays and advanced numerical methods to investigate false-vacuum decay, correlated quantum matter and symmetry-breaking dynamics.
16–20 March 2026 — Lecture at the JUNIQ/EPIQ Spring School
Jaka Vodeb contributed to the lecture programme on quantum simulation at the JUNIQ/EPIQ Spring School on Quantum Computing at the Jülich Supercomputing Centre. The international school combined lectures and practical training on gate-based quantum computers and quantum annealers for students, early-career researchers and industry participants.
Official school page · Event report
28 March 2026 — QSim-NPQ presented at the IJS Open Day
Members of the project presented quantum-simulation research during the Jožef Stefan Institute Open Day. Jaka Vodeb highlighted the use of quantum annealers and Rydberg-atom arrays to investigate false-vacuum decay, quantum materials and symmetry-breaking dynamics, while doctoral researcher Gregor Humar presented research activities of the Department of Complex Matter.
IJS event report · Project outreach report and photographs
21 April 2026 — Seminar on constrained false-vacuum dynamics
Gregor Humar presented the seminar Constrained dynamics of false vacuum decay in one- and two-dimensional tilted Ising models at the Jožef Stefan Institute. The lecture covered quantized bubble formation in one dimension and resonantly enhanced domain growth in two dimensions, including ballistic propagation and KPZ-type interface broadening.
Seminar announcement and abstract
18 June 2026 — Invited panel at Qubits Europe 2026
Project leader Jaka Vodeb participated in the invited Quantum Research Panel at Qubits Europe 2026 in London. The discussion addressed the use of large-scale quantum annealers for studying false-vacuum decay and other non-equilibrium many-body phenomena, future quantum hardware and opportunities for early-career researchers.
Event page · Conference agenda · Panel recording · Event report
24 June 2026 — First QSim-NPQ preprint released
The first project preprint, Resonant false vacuum decay in two dimensions on a 4000-qubit quantum annealer, reports a regime in which true-vacuum domains expand much faster than they nucleate. The study combines experiments on more than 4,000 qubits with tensor-network simulations and stochastic modelling.
4 July 2026 — False-vacuum results featured in quantum-technology media
The two-dimensional false-vacuum study was featured by Quantum Zeitgeist. The article highlighted resonant domain growth, the use of more than 4,000 qubits and the relevance of the results to metastability, cosmology and strongly correlated quantum matter.
5–11 July 2026 — Lecture at Physics in Ljubljana 2026
Jaka Vodeb gave a lecture on quantum simulation at the international Physics in Ljubljana summer school. The programme introduced international bachelor’s and master’s physics students to current research through lectures and laboratory visits, including quantum technology and condensed-matter physics.
15 July 2026 — Preprint on post-critical meson dynamics released
The project preprint Post-Critical Meson Dynamics of Kibble–Zurek Excitations in a 5,564-Qubit Quantum Annealer investigates the fate of excitations created during a biased quantum phase transition. The results distinguish robust Kibble–Zurek defect creation from subsequent mesonic dynamics that become localized by static disorder.
15 July 2026 — Research data and analysis scripts released
Quantum-annealer measurements, matrix-product-state simulation results and figure-generation scripts associated with the meson-dynamics study were released openly through Zenodo.
Open the Zenodo repository · Data-availability statement
2–4 November 2026 — INQA Conference 2026
Jaka Vodeb is a chairman of the organizing committee and a member of the scientific board of the INQA Conference on Quantum Simulation and Quantum Computation in Continuous Time in Bled. The meeting brings together researchers working on quantum annealing, analogue quantum simulation and continuous-time quantum computation.
Conference website · Organizing committee and scientific board
Funding acknowledgement
This project is co-financed by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency under project J1-70063, Quantum Simulation of Non-equilibrium Phenomena on Quantum Devices.
For publications and presentations, the recommended acknowledgement is:
This work was supported by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS) under project J1-70063, Quantum Simulation of Non-equilibrium Phenomena on Quantum Devices.