Colloquium
Quantum Simulators for the Cosmos: From Confining Strings to the Early Universe

Abstract

The rapid progress of quantum technologies—highlighted by recent Nobel Prizes recognizing advances in controlling quantum matter—is reshaping how we investigate the fundamental laws of nature. In this colloquium, I will introduce the concept of quantum machines: platforms such as quantum computers, analog simulators, and engineered networks of photons or ultracold atoms that process information according to the principles of quantum mechanics. These systems are emerging as powerful tools to emulate physical phenomena that were previously inaccessible to theory or experiment. By bridging quantum information science, tensor network methods, and high-energy physics, this work exemplifies how quantum machines are becoming laboratories for exploring exotic phases of matter, the structure of gauge fields, and the processes that shaped the early cosmos. Together, these advances mark the beginning of a new era in which we can engineer, manipulate, and ultimately understand some aspects of the quantum fabric of the universe.