Chinese Scientists Simulate 'False Vacuum' Quantum Effect That Could End The Universe

Physicists at Tsinghua University in China have recreated a key mechanism behind a cosmic phenomenon known as “false vacuum decay”, a hypothetical event that could, in theory, destroy the universe. Their results were published in Physical Review Letters on March 27.

The experiment does not suggest the universe is about to collapse, but it provides a rare link between abstract quantum theory and controllable quantum matter, offering new insights for both fundamental physics and quantum computing, South China Morning Post reported.

Simulating A Universe-Sized Bubble

False vacuum decay is a concept from theoretical physics first formalised in the 1970s. It predicts that a metastable “false vacuum” could suddenly transition to a lower-energy “true vacuum,” forming a bubble that spreads

at the speed of light and wipes out everything in its path.

The Tsinghua team simulated this by creating a ring of highly excited rubidium-87 atoms, which naturally formed two energy states. Using lasers, they artificially raised the energy of one state to create a false vacuum, while the other acted as the true vacuum.

Quantum fluctuations then drove the system to decay from the false to the true state, mimicking the expansion of destructive vacuum bubbles.

“We observed the nucleation and expansion of true vacuum bubbles directly,” said lead researcher Wang Xiao, a theoretical physicist trained at Oxford University.

Implications For Quantum Tech

While theoretical decay times for a real cosmic false vacuum could exceed one quattuortrigintillion (10-to-the-105th-power) years, the experiment does not reveal whether the universe is actually in such a state. Wang emphasised that the research is about understanding quantum processes, not predicting an imminent cosmic disaster.

Beyond cosmology, the experiment highlighted the potential of Rydberg atom arrays for quantum computing. Unlike universal quantum computers, these simulators can model complex quantum systems naturally, without controlling every individual particle interaction.

“Quantum technology will fundamentally change humanity’s ability to control and understand nature,” Wang said. “I hope more people will participate in this process,” Wang said.

He further encouraged more researchers to participate in the rapidly advancing field, which includes leading teams in France, the United States, and companies like Google.