arXiv · 2605.23413
Quantum Simulation of Energy Bifurcation and Z_2-Symmetry Restoration in Macroscopic Quantum Tunneling
Abstract
Macroscopic quantum tunneling (MQT), a cornerstone of Leggett's program, is deeply linked with instanton physics, yet its experimental verification remains elusive. This Perspective demonstrates that the quantum Rabi model manifests observable, instanton-like effects via quantum simulation. In the MQT regime, qubit-boson interactions drive Polyakov's energy bifurcation, governing tunneling and spontaneous symmetry breaking. Mapping the quantum Rabi model onto an effective double-well potential reveals that while tunneling suppression induces spontaneous symmetry breaking, instanton-like contributions act to restore it. This mechanism enables experimental access to the classical Euclidean action of an effective instanton-like particle, offering a route to probe non-perturbative phenomena.
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Masao Hirokawa. 2026-05-22. Quantum Simulation of Energy Bifurcation and Z_2-Symmetry Restoration in Macroscopic Quantum Tunneling. https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.23413
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