Quantum Simulation of Black Holes in a dc-SQUID Array

TL;DR

This paper proposes a quantum simulation method using a dc-SQUID array to emulate various black hole spacetimes and explore phenomena like event horizons and Hawking radiation in a controllable laboratory setup.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to simulate 1+1D black hole spacetimes using a dc-SQUID array, enabling the study of horizon-related phenomena in quantum systems.

Findings

Potential to generate event horizons and Hawking radiation in the simulator.

Limitations due to quantum phase fluctuations affecting the simulation.

Simulation of ergospheres in rotating black holes remains challenging.

Abstract

We propose quantum simulations of 1+1D radial sections of different black hole spacetimes (Schwarzschild, Reissner-Nordstr\o{}m, Kerr and Kerr-Newman), by means of a dc-SQUID array embedded on an open transmission line. This is achieved by reproducing the effective speed of light in the 1+1D sections of the spacetime with the propagation speed of the electromagnetic field in the simulator, which can be modulated by an external magnetic flux. We show that the generation of event horizons -- and therefore Hawking radiation -- in the simulator could be achieved for non-rotating black holes, although we discuss limitations related to fluctuations of the quantum phase. In the case of rotating black holes, it seems that the simulation of ergospheres is beyond reach.