Our universe might exist in a “false vacuum,” a state of faux-stability awaiting collapse into a more stable state. Scientists studying quantum field theory have explored this idea, and a new study in Nature simulates the processes behind this phenomenon, offering a glimpse into how the universe could dramatically end. “We’re talking about a process by which the universe would completely change its structure,” said study lead author Zlatko Papic, a theoretical physics professor at the University of Leeds. “The fundamental constants could instantaneously change, and the world as we know it would collapse like a house of cards.” The false vacuum theory isn’t new, but this research is among the first to simulate its mechanics on a large scale. A false vacuum implies that the universe’s apparent lowest energy state, or vacuum energy, is temporary. In the future, it could decay to an even lower baseline. Coauthor Jean-Yves Desaules of the Institute of Science and Technology Austria compared this to a rollercoaster with multiple valleys but only one “true” lowest state at ground level. We may currently reside in one of these “valleys,” in a metastable state lasting millions or billions of years. “If that is indeed the case, quantum mechanics would allow the universe to eventually tunnel to the lowest energy state or the ‘true’ vacuum, resulting in a cataclysmic global event,” Desaules added. Central to the theory are bubbles—regions of “true vacuum” forming within the false vacuum. These bubbles could trigger vacuum decay across the cosmos, akin to a shaken soft drink exploding. However, the physics of these bubbles has been elusive. To study them, researchers used a quantum annealer, a cutting-edge quantum machine, to simulate bubble formation during the transition from a false to true vacuum. Using 5564 qubits, the simulation revealed the complexity of bubble interactions. The key finding was that bubble size depends on the balance between volume energy gain and surface energy loss, aligning with theoretical predictions. “It’s exciting to have these new tools that could effectively serve as a table-top ‘laboratory’ to understand the fundamental dynamical processes in the universe,” Papic said. The study underscores the need to understand bubble interactions, not just their formation, to grasp vacuum decay. Beyond cosmic implications, this research could help stabilize qubits in quantum computers, which are notoriously prone to errors. The post The Universe Could “Collapse Like a House of Cards”, New Study Shows appeared first on Anomalien.com.