[phys4phys] QuEra webinar: Ana Hudomal et al, 10 February 2026, 15:00

[Nenad Vukmirovic]

Dear colleagues,

I would like to inform you about an upcoming webinar organized by the 
quantum computing startup QuEra (Boston, USA), which will take place on 
Tuesday 10 February 2026 at 15:00 (Serbian time).

The webinar, entitled
“Ergodicity breaking meets criticality in a gauge-theory quantum simulator,”
will be presented by:
Dr Ana Hudomal, Scientific Computing Laboratory, Institute of Physics 
Belgrade
Prof. Zlatko Papić, University of Leeds
Dr Milan Kornjača, QuEra Computing
Dr Tommaso Macrì, QuEra Computing

Abstract:
Recent advances in quantum simulations have opened access to the 
real-time dynamics of lattice gauge theories, providing a new setting to 
explore how quantum criticality influences thermalization and ergodicity 
far from equilibrium. Using QuEra's programmable Rydberg atom array, we 
map out the dynamical phase diagram of the spin-1/2 U(1) quantum link 
model in one spatial dimension by quenching the fermion mass. We reveal 
a tunable regime of ergodicity breaking due to quantum many-body scars, 
manifested as long-lived coherent oscillations that persist across a 
much broader range of parameters than previously observed, including at 
the equilibrium phase transition point. We further analyze the 
electron-positron pairs generated during state preparation via the 
Kibble-Zurek mechanism, which strongly affect the post-quench dynamics. 
Our results provide new insights into nonthermal dynamics in lattice 
gauge theories and establish Rydberg atom arrays as a powerful platform 
for probing the interplay between ergodicity breaking and quantum 
criticality.

The webinar is based on the paper:
https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.23794

Registration link:
https://quera.zoom.us/webinar/register/9317689112435/WN_hDeNweC3RIOzcCKD24k_PA#/registration

Best regards,

--
Dr Nenad Vukmirović
Research Professor
Scientific Computing Laboratory
Institute of Physics Belgrade
Pregrevica 118, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
URL: http://www.scl.rs/nenad