Quantum simulation of particle pair creation near the event horizon
Open accessAbstract
Though it is still a big challenge to unify general relativity and quantum mechanics in modern physics, the theory of quantum field related with the gravitational effect has been well developed and some striking phenomena are predicted, such as Hawking radiation. However, the direct measurement of these quantum effects under general relativity is far beyond present experiment techniques. Fortunately, the emulation of general relativity phenomena in the laboratory has become accessible in recent years. However, up to now, these simulations are limited either in classical regime or in flat space whereas quantum simulation related with general relativity is rarely involved. Here we propose and experimentally demonstrate a quantum evolution of fermions in close proximity to an artificial black hole on a photonic chip. We successfully observe the acceleration behavior, quantum creation, and evolution of a fermion pair near the event horizon: a single-photon wave packet with positive energy escapes from the black hole while negative energy is captured. Our extensible platform not only provides a route to access quantum effects related with general relativity, but also has the potentiality to investigate quantum gravity in future.
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Written from the paper’s full text.
TL;DR
The paper reports a photonic-chip quantum simulation of fermion dynamics near an artificial black hole, observing exponential acceleration of a single-photon wave packet and Hawking-radiation-like creation and separation of a positive/negative-energy fermion pair. It finds curvature-dependent evolution indices and preserved single-photon nonclassicality, with a built-in Hanbury-Brown-Twiss interference effect.
Key findings
- A single-photon wave packet near the artificial event horizon shows exponential acceleration: fitted as \(x_c = x_0\exp(\eta(z-z_0))+C\), with \(\eta_1=0.063\pm0.001\) for curvature \(0.0132\) and \(\eta_2=0.030\pm0.015\) for curvature \(0.0063\); the ratio \(q_e=\eta_1/\eta_2=2.10\pm1.02\) matches the curvature ratio \(q_c=2.10\).
- In a bi-layer lattice, the single photon splits into positive- and negative-energy components: the positive-energy wave packet escapes while the negative-energy one moves toward and is captured near the black hole; the separation distance increases linearly with excited position, with fitted slope \(0.44\pm0.07\) versus theoretical \(0.40\) for \(\alpha=0.005\ \mathrm{mm}^{-1}\) and \(z=40\ \mathrm{mm}\).
- Nonclassicality is preserved: measured \(g^{(2)}\) along the bosonic evolution is as low as \(0.01\), and for the fermion-pair simulation \(g^{(2)}\) is \(0.062\pm0.005\).
- The fermion-pair separation acts as a built-in Hanbury-Brown-Twiss interferometer, allowing both positive- and negative-energy wave packets to be detected in the simulation even though the negative-energy partner could not be observed cosmologically.
Methods
- The platform uses femtosecond-laser-direct-written waveguide arrays in borosilicate glass, with single photons generated by spontaneous parametric down-conversion in a PPKTP crystal at 810 nm and heralded for injection into the chip.
- Bosonic evolution is simulated with inhomogeneous hopping coefficients \(\kappa_m=\alpha m/2\); fermion-pair evolution uses a bi-layer lattice with couplings \(\kappa_{1,m}=\alpha(m-1/2)\) and \(\kappa_{2,m}=\alpha m\). Evolution distances range from 20 mm to 50 mm in 5 mm steps.
- Output probability distributions are measured with an ICCD camera and fitted with Gaussian or bi-Gaussian functions; second-order correlation \(g^{(2)}\) is measured with avalanche photodiodes and an FPGA counter.
Limitations
- Stated: the current work emulates the static metric of a two-dimensional Schwarzschild black hole using one-dimensional evanescent coupling waveguides; higher-dimensional curved spacetime and dynamic metrics are left for future research.
- Stated: the gravitational field is the only artificial part of the simulation, and direct cosmological measurement of these effects is far beyond present techniques; the negative-energy wave packet falling into a real black hole could never be detected, though both components are detectable in this simulation.
- Evident: the demonstration is limited to single-photon wave packets and specific fabricated lattice parameters and sizes, so it does not directly test quantum gravity or full higher-dimensional spacetime dynamics.
Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
0 of 5 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged
- Findingreasoning
The exponential evolution index of the single-photon wave packet depends on the curvature of the black hole α.
“The result clarifies that the quantum evolution near the event horizon of a black hole is faster than that in flat space, and the exponential evolution index depends on the curvature of the black hole α.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingnone given
The dynamic behavior of a single-photon wave packet near the event horizon of the artificial black hole has an exponential form in time.
“Comparing to linear time evolution in the flat space, the dynamic behavior of single-photon wave packet near the event horizon of the black hole has an exponential form as time, whose exponential index depends on the curvature of the black hole.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
The separation distance between the two wave packets changes with the excited position in the same lattice.
“From the measured probability distributions of single-photon wave packet shown in Fig. 4e, we do observe that the separation distance changes with the excited position.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
The time evolution of the single-photon wave packet around the black hole has an exponential acceleration form.
“We experimentally observe that the time evolution of single-photon wave packet around the black hole has an exponential acceleration form.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingreasoning
Both the positive and negative energy wave packets can be readily detected in the quantum simulation experiment.
“While it will be never possible for people to detect the wave packet with negative energy falling into a black hole, both the wave packets with positive and negative energy states can be readily detected in our quantum simulation experiment.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
- Findingreasoning
The quantum evolution near the event horizon of a black hole is faster than that in flat space.
“The result clarifies that the quantum evolution near the event horizon of a black hole is faster than that in flat space, and the exponential evolution index depends on the curvature of the black hole α.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingreasoning
The effective refractive index required by a one-dimensional black hole is achieved when the coupling coefficient is controlled as κ = αr/(2d) = αm/2.
“Comparing with Eq. (2), the effective refractive index required by one-dimensional black hole will be identical when we control the coupling coefficient as κ = αr/(2d) = αm/2, where we take discrete the continuous function with lattice r = md.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: The propagation distance z in the coupled waveguide equation can be treated as the time t in the Schrödinger equation.
- Findingown data
The study experimentally demonstrates quantum evolution of a single-photon wave packet in close proximity to an artificial black hole in evanescent coupling waveguides on a photonic chip.
“In summary, we experimentally demonstrate quantum evolution of single-photon wave packet in close proximity to artificial black hole in evanescent coupling waveguides on a photonic chip.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The gravitational field is the only artificial part in the quantum simulation platform.
- Findingown data
For a second lattice with a different black-hole size, the evolution function is also exponential but with a lower index η2 = 0.030 ± 0.015.
“To demonstrate this, we fabricate another lattice with a different size of a black hole. The evolution function also appears as exponential but with a lower index η2 = 0.030 ± 0.015.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: The propagation distance z in the coupled waveguide equation can be treated as the time t in the Schrödinger equation.
- Findingown data
The single-photon Gaussian wave packets move faster near the event horizon of the black hole than in flat space in the transverse direction.
“The single-photon Gaussian wave packets, corresponding to the boson, are found moving faster near the event horizon of the black hole than that in flat space in transverse direction.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: The propagation distance z in the coupled waveguide equation can be treated as the time t in the Schrödinger equation.
- Findingown data
The measured probability distributions for different evolution distances are well consistent with the theoretical prediction of bosonic behavior near the event horizon.
“By fitting the measured probability distributions with the Gaussian function, the differences between wave packets in flat space and space around the black hole appear more distinctly, which is well consistent with our theoretical prediction on the bosonic behavior near the event horizon of a black hole.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: The propagation distance z in the coupled waveguide equation can be treated as the time t in the Schrödinger equation.
- Findingown data
A quantum evolution of fermions in close proximity to an artificial black hole can be experimentally demonstrated on a photonic chip.
“Here we propose and experimentally demonstrate a quantum evolution of fermions in close proximity to an artificial black hole on a photonic chip.”
- Also stated in: § INTRODUCTION · boosted
“In this work, we propose and realize the quantum evolution of single-photon wave packet close to the event horizon of an artificial black hole on a photonic chip, in which the coupled three-dimensional waveguide arrays are fabricated by femtosecond laser direct writing technique [50,51].”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: Direct measurement of quantum effects under general relativity is far beyond present experimental techniques.
- Also stated in: § INTRODUCTION · boosted
- Findingown data
The measured second-order correlation function g(2) is as low as 0.062±0.005.
“In our experiment, we observe the second-order correlation function g(2) as low as 0.062±0.005”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning
One-dimensional artificial black holes can be constructed using a single-layer photonic waveguide lattice with inhomogeneous hopping coefficients inspired by transformation optics.
“one-dimensional artificial black holes can be constructed using single-layer photonic waveguide lattice with inhomogeneous hopping coefficients inspired by the concept of transformation optics.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: Direct measurement of quantum effects under general relativity is far beyond present experimental techniques.
- The authors state this as an assumption: The propagation distance z in the coupled waveguide equation can be treated as the time t in the Schrödinger equation.
- Interpretationown data
The observed phenomenon of positive energy escaping while negative energy is captured deviates from the intuition that a photon is always trapped by the black hole.
“This phenomenon deviates from the intuition that photon is always trapped by the black hole, and is found well analogue to Hawking Radiation, which completely origins from quantum effects related with gravitational effect.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Study design and conductnone given
The study demonstrates quantum evolution of a genuine single photon rather than classical light in close proximity to an artificial black hole on a photonic chip.
“We achieve this by demonstrating quantum evolution of genuine single photon rather than classical light in close proximity to an artificial black hole on a photonic chip.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The gravitational field is the only artificial part in the quantum simulation platform.
- Interpretationown data
The observed quantum evolution of the single-photon wave packet demonstrates a distinct index dependence on the curvature of the designed lattices, matching the theoretical model.
“The observed quantum evolution of single-photon wave packet demonstrates a distinct index dependence on the curvature of the designed lattices, suggesting a great match with our theoretical model on the dynamic behavior of boson in close proximity to the black hole well.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: The propagation distance z in the coupled waveguide equation can be treated as the time t in the Schrödinger equation.
- Interpretationreasoning
The evolution process of the fermion pair exhibits a good analogue with Hawking Radiation.
“The evolution process exhibits a good analogue with Hawking Radiation.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: The propagation distance z in the coupled waveguide equation can be treated as the time t in the Schrödinger equation.
- Premisecitation
The propagation of electromagnetic waves in a static gravitational field is analogous to propagation in an inhomogeneous medium.
“we borrow the concept of transformation optics, that the propagation of electromagnetic waves in static gravitational field is analogue to the propagation in inhomogeneous medium.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [22] Genov, 2009, Mimicking celestial mechanics in metamaterials, Nat Phys source
- Premisecitation
Prior optical simulations of relativistic phenomena are limited either in the classical regime or in flat space, leaving quantum evolution related with general relativity uninvestigated.
“However, all these works are limited either in classical regime or in the flat space, leaving the quantum evolution related with general relativity uninvestigated.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked - Interpretationreasoning
The separated two modes correspond to the two wave packet solutions of the system and are mapped to the fermion pair with positive and negative energy, respectively.
“The separated two modes, corresponding to the two wave packet solutions of the system, are mapped to the fermion pair with positive and negative energy, respectively, as discussed above.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Study design and conductreasoning
The single-photon generation and detection setup ensures all experimental investigations are rigorously in the quantum regime.
“The single-photon generation of initial states associated with single-photon detection of the quantum evolution output ensures all the experimental investigations rigorously in quantum regime.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
- May combine two claims. 15
- Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 6
May combine two claims.
Findingown dataThe dispersion relation of the bi-layer lattice changes from (i) to (ii) with the increase of κ1,m and κ2,m and maintains two modes.
“as shown in the inset in Fig. 4b, the dispersion relation changes from (i) to (ii) with the increase of κ1, m and κ2, m and maintains two modes.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingown dataThe group velocity of the positive (negative) energy state is v+ ≅ αm (v− ≅ −αm), which corresponds well to the analytical theoretical calculation based on the Dirac equation.
“The group velocity of positive (negative) energy of state is }{}$v$+ ≅ αm(}{}$v$− ≅ −αm), which corresponds to the analytical theoretical calculation based on Dirac equation well”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingown dataThe ratio of the evolution indexes for the two lattices is qe = η1/η2 = 2.10 ± 1.02, and the curvature ratio is qc = χ1/χ2 = 2.10.
“We can obtain the ratio of the evolution indexes for two lattices as qe = η1/η2 = 2.10 ± 1.02. The gradient parameters of coupling coefficient we selected in our lattices are χ1 = 0.0132 and χ2 = 0.0063, respectively, which lead to the curvature ratio of two lattices as qc = χ1/χ2 = 2.10.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: The propagation distance z in the coupled waveguide equation can be treated as the time t in the Schrödinger equation.
May combine two claims.
Findingown dataThe positive energy state of a massless fermion has positive velocity and escapes away from the black hole, while the negative energy state has negative velocity, propagating towards and eventually stopping around the black hole.
“By comparing the time evolution of wave packet with different energy, we can find that the positive energy state has positive velocity and escapes away from a black hole, and the negative state has negative velocity, propagating towards and eventually stopping around the black hole.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: The propagation distance z in the coupled waveguide equation can be treated as the time t in the Schrödinger equation.
May combine two claims.
Findingown dataThe relationship between the separation distance and the excited position is linear and consistent with the theoretical calculation based on Eq. (4).
“We illustrate the obtained relationship between the separation distance and excited position in Fig. 4f, which follows a good linearity and is consistent with the theoretical calculation based on Eq. (4).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingown dataIn the experiment, the prepared single-photon wave packet is split into two parts with positive and negative energy states, which evolve in opposite directions: the positive energy part escapes from the black hole while the negative energy part moves toward it.
“From Fig. 4d, we can see that the prepared single-photon wave packet is split to two with the positive and negative energy states, respectively, possessing distinctly different evolution directions to either escape away or move towards the black hole.”
- Also stated in: § CONCLUSION · boosted
“Furthermore, we experimentally observe the creation and evolution of fermion pair near the event horizon: a wave packet of single photon with positive energy escapes from the black hole while negative energy is captured.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Also stated in: § CONCLUSION · boosted
May combine two claims.
Findingown dataThe measured heralded second-order correlation function g(2) along the evolution distance is as low as 0.01, indicating strong nonclassicality and weak decoherence in the evolution process.
“the experimental results of g(2) along the evolution distance are all as low as 0.01, revealing strong nonclassicality and weak decoherence in the evolution process of quantum simulation.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingown dataIn the artificial black hole, a single-photon wave packet with positive energy escapes from the black hole while negative energy is captured near the event horizon.
“We successfully observe the acceleration behavior, quantum creation, and evolution of a fermion pair near the event horizon: a single-photon wave packet with positive energy escapes from the black hole while negative energy is captured.”
- Also stated in: § INTRODUCTION · boosted
“We also experimentally observe the acceleration behavior, creation and evolution of fermion pair close to the event horizon of an artificial black hole by using a designed bi-layer photonic waveguide lattice: a single-photon wave packet with positive energy escapes while negative energy is captured.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Also stated in: § INTRODUCTION · boosted
May combine two claims.
Findingown dataThe acceleration behavior of the single-photon wave packet depends on the sizes of the black hole, and the evolution index is inversely proportional to the sizes of the black hole.
“The acceleration behavior of single-photon wave packet depends on the sizes of black hole, and the evolution index is inverse proportion to the sizes of black hole.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: The propagation distance z in the coupled waveguide equation can be treated as the time t in the Schrödinger equation.
May combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningThe separation effect of the fermion pair has the exact functioning required by the Hanbury-Brown-Twiss effect, meaning there is a built-in Hanbury-Brown-Twiss interferometer for a fermion pair enabled by the quantum evolution of the pair itself.
“Very interestingly, the separation effect of fermion pair has the exact functioning that is required by Hanbury-Brown-Twiss effect. It means that there is a built-in Hanbury-Brown-Twiss interferometer for a fermion pair, which is intrinsically enabled by the quantum evolution of the pair itself.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.
Study design and conductreasoningThe input angle of the single-photon beam can be controlled by rotating the mirror while maintaining its shape, thereby implementing the required transverse wavevector (input phase).
“A 4f system (two identical lenses at a distance of 2f from one another) is used to image the single-photon beam at the mirror into the lattices, which means that we can control the input angle of the beam by rotating the mirror while maintaining its shape. In this way, we are able to implement the required transverse wavevector (input phase) by controlling the input angle.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Interpretationown dataSingle-photon nonclassicality is well preserved in simulating the creation and evolution of a fermion pair close to the event horizon of an artificial black hole, and can be well observed by the built-in Hanbury-Brown-Twiss interferometer enabled by the quantum simulation phenomenon itself.
“implying that single-photon nonclassicality can be well preserved in simulating the creation and evolution of a fermion pair close to the event horizon of an artificial black hole, and can be well observed by the built-in Hanbury-Brown-Twiss interferometer enabled by the quantum simulation phenomenon itself.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningThe built-in quantum interference predicted by quantum field theory under general relativity can be observed in their quantum simulation platform, but it will never be possible to observe it with any cosmological approach.
“The built-in quantum interference predicted by the quantum field theory under general relativity can be observed in our quantum simulation platform, but it will never be possible to be observed with any cosmological approach.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The gravitational field is the only artificial part in the quantum simulation platform.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).
Study design and conductnone givenThe required initial transverse wavevector is well achieved via a modulated array of waveguide.
“The required initial transverse wavevector is well achieved via a modulated array of waveguide.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).
Study design and conductnone givenIf only one polarized photon is injected into the lattices without externally triggering the ICCD with another polarized photon, the quantum evolution associated with the measured patterns would come from thermal-state light rather than genuine single-photon state.
“It should be noticed that, if we inject only one polarized photon into the lattices without externally triggering the ICCD with another polarized photon, the quantum evolution associated with the measured patterns would come from the thermal-state light rather than genuine single-photon state.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.
Study design and conductnone givenA single-photon Gaussian wave packet with βr = π/2d can be generated when only the first site is excited with single photon, which is key to faithfully satisfy the required transverse wavevector in theory.
“A single-photon Gaussian wave packet with βr = π/2d can be generated when only the first site is excited with single photon, which is key to faithfully satisfy the required transverse wavevector in theory.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
PremisecitationOwing to vacuum fluctuations, a particle-antiparticle pair is generated close to the event horizon of a black hole; the negative-energy particle falls into the black hole while the other escapes, causing the black hole to lose mass.
“Owing to vacuum fluctuations, particle–antiparticle pair is generated close to the event horizon of a black hole. One of the particles with negative energy falls into the black hole while the other escapes. This causes the black hole to lose mass, and it appears that the black hole has just emitted a particle.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [1] Hawking, 1974, Black-hole explosions, Nature source
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
PremisecitationQuantum field theory in curved spacetime can describe gravity where quantum effects cannot be ignored, such as Hawking radiation.
“Nevertheless, the flourishment of quantum field theory in curved spacetime can describe gravity where quantum effects cannot be ignored, such as Hawking radiation [1] which happens near compact astrophysical objects possessing strong effects of gravity.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [1] Hawking, 1974, Black-hole explosions, Nature source
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).
Interpretationnone givenSuch quantum simulations can be used to detect the quantum interference of a fermion pair, which will never be possible to achieve in future experiments.
“Furthermore, we emphasize that such quantum simulations can be even used to detect the quantum interference of fermion pair, which will be never possible to achieve in future experiments.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The gravitational field is the only artificial part in the quantum simulation platform.
The paper relies on this without support.
Direct measurement of quantum effects under general relativity is far beyond present experimental techniques.
“However, the direct measurement of these quantum effects under general relativity is far beyond present experiment techniques.”
“Owing to the limitation of cosmological observation, however, the possibility to directly measure these effects is far beyond present experiment technique.”
The authors state this as an assumption.
The propagation distance z in the coupled waveguide equation can be treated as the time t in the Schrödinger equation.
“Since the propagation distance }{}$z$ in the coupled waveguide equation plays the role as the time t in Schrodinger equation”
The paper relies on this without support.
No prior experiment has experimentally observed the predicted phenomena that this quantum simulation verifies.
“To our knowledge, it is the first quantum simulation being able to verify the predicted phenomena that have never been experimentally observed, beyond a stage of only repeating known phenomena.”
The paper relies on this without support.
The gravitational field is the only artificial part in the quantum simulation platform.
“The gravitational field is the only artificial part in our quantum simulation platform, fortunately, and is accessible with cosmological observation.”
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.
Dispersion relation has the opposite sign from the stated wave ansatz
MinorSubstituting the stated positive-exponent plane wave into the coupled equation gives βz = 2κcos(βrd) − β0, the negative of the reported dispersion relation. This also reverses the velocity derived from that relation.
“Taking coupling coefficient as κm−1 = κm = κ and substituting the plane wave solution ϕm ∝ exp (iβrmd + iβ}{}$z$}{}$z$), we can obtain the dispersion relation that connects transverse and longitudinal dynamics: β}{}$z$ = β0 − 2κcos (βrd)”
“i∂ϕm/∂}{}$z$ = β0ϕm − κm−1ϕm−1 − κmϕm+1”
Stated Dirac solutions have time phases opposite to their stated energies
MinorFor i∂tφ = hφ, a positive-energy state must have a negative time-phase exponent. The stated positive-energy solution instead has a positive exponent, and the negative-energy solution has the converse sign.
“The Hamiltonian has plane solutions, and the positive energy state E+ = αkrr has }{}$\varphi _{+}(r, t)=({\scriptsize\begin{array}{@{}*{1}{c}@{}} {1}\\[0pt] {1} \end{array}})\exp \left(i k_{r} r+i \alpha k_{r} r t\right) / \sqrt{r}$”
“i∂tϕ = hϕ = −iαrσx(∂r + 1/2r)Φ”
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Hawking Radiation in an Electromagnetic Waveguide?
Schützhold, R., & Unruh, W. G. (2005) · Physical Review Letters · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.95.031301 · Cited by 176 · see citing works
A spacetime cloak, or a history editor
McCall, M. W., Favaro, A., Kinsler, P., et al. (2010) · Journal of Optics · doi:10.1088/2040-8978/13/2/024003 · Cited by 171 · see citing works
Hawking Radiation from an Acoustic Black Hole on an Ion Ring
Horstmann, B., Reznik, B., Fagnocchi, S., & Cirac, J. I. (2010) · Physical Review Letters · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.104.250403 · Cited by 145 · see citing works
Hawking Radiation in Sonic Black Holes
Giovanazzi, S. (2005) · Physical Review Letters · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.94.061302 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
Dirac equation for cold atoms in artificial curved spacetimes
Boada, O., Celi, A., Latorre, J. I., & Lewenstein, M. (2011) · New Journal of Physics · doi:10.1088/1367-2630/13/3/035002 · Cited by 141 · see citing works
Optical simulations of gravitational effects in the Newton–Schrödinger system
Bekenstein, R., Schley, R., Mutzafi, M., Rotschild, C., & Segev, M. (2015) · Nature Physics · doi:10.1038/nphys3451 · Cited by 140 · see citing works
Transformation optics that mimics the system outside a Schwarzschild black hole
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Experimental quantum fast hitting on hexagonal graphs
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Self-citationControl of light by curved space in nanophotonic structures
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Klein tunneling in binary photonic superlattices
Longhi, S. (2010) · Physical Review B · doi:10.1103/physrevb.81.075102 · Cited by 100 · see citing works
Broadband Light Harvesting Nanostructures Robust to Edge Bluntness
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Towards a metamaterial simulation of a spinning cosmic string
Mackay, T. G., & Lakhtakia, A. (2010) · Physics Letters A · doi:10.1016/j.physleta.2010.03.061 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
Twist-induced guidance in coreless photonic crystal fiber: A helical channel for light
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Optical analogues of the Newton–Schrödinger equation and boson star evolution
Roger, T., Maitland, C., Wilson, K., Westerberg, N., Vocke, D., Wright, E. M., & Faccio, D. (2016) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/ncomms13492 · Cited by 75 · see citing works
Elastic Waves in Curved Space: Mimicking a Wormhole
Zhu, J. F., Liu, Y., Liang, Z., et al. (2018) · Physical Review Letters · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.121.234301 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Sheng, C., Liu, H., Chen, H., & Zhu, S. N. (2018) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-018-06718-9 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
Self-citationWavefront shaping through emulated curved space in waveguide settings
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Self-citationGeneral relativity in electrical engineering
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Hanbury Brown and Twiss measurements in curved space
Schultheiss, V. H., Batz, S., & Peschel, U. (2015) · Nature Photonics · doi:10.1038/nphoton.2015.244 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
More studies on metamaterials mimicking de Sitter space
Li, M., Miao, R.-X., & Pang, Y. (2010) · Optics Express · doi:10.1364/oe.18.009026 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Dirac equation in 2-dimensional curved spacetime, particle creation, and coupled waveguide arrays
Koke, C., Noh, C., & Angelakis, D. G. (2016) · Annals of Physics · doi:10.1016/j.aop.2016.08.013 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Vacuum instability and pair production in an optical setting
Dreisow, F., Longhi, S., Nolte, S., Tünnermann, A., & Szameit, A. (2012) · Physical Review Letters · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.109.110401 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
Frequency converter implementing an optical analogue of the cosmological redshift
Ginis, V., Tassin, P., Craps, B., & Veretennicoff, I. P. (2010) · Chalmers Publication Library (Chalmers University of Technology) · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Frequency converter implementing an optical analogue of the cosmological redshift
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Self-citationCurved-space topological phases in photonic lattices
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A spacetime cloak, or a history editor
McCall, M. W., Favaro, A., Kinsler, P., et al. (2011) · Journal of Optics · doi:10.1088/2040-8978/13/2/029501 · Cited by 32
Parity-Induced Thermalization Gap in Disordered Ring Lattices
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Self-citationOptical Simulation of Neutrino Oscillations in Binary Waveguide Arrays
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Emergence of Fresnel diffraction zones in gravitational lensing by a cosmic string
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Trapping Light by Mimicking Gravitational Lensing
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Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Xu, L., & Chen, H. (2021) · Advanced Materials · doi:10.1002/adma.202005489 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Black-hole-inspired thermal trapping with graded heat-conduction metadevices
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Simulation of the massless Dirac field in 1+1D curved spacetime
Liu, Z., Yang, R.-Q., Fan, H., & Wang, J. (2025) · Science China Physics Mechanics and Astronomy · doi:10.1007/s11433-025-2696-3 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Bound vortex light in an emulated topological defect in photonic lattices
Sheng, C., Wang, Y., Chang, Y., Wang, H., Lu, Y., Yang, Y., Zhu, S. N., Jin, X., & Liu, H. (2022) · Light Science & Applications · doi:10.1038/s41377-022-00931-4 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Self-citationGeometrical Theory of Electromagnetic Nonreciprocity
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Simulating photosynthetic energy transport on a photonic network
Tang, H. L., Shang, X.-W., Shi, Z.-Y., He, T.-S., Feng, Z., Wang, T., Shi, R., Wang, H.-M., Tan, X., Xu, X.-Y., et al. (2024) · npj Quantum Information · doi:10.1038/s41534-024-00824-x · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Self-citationSheng, C., Huang, C., Yang, R.-Q., Gong, Y.-X., Zhu, S. N., & Liu, H. (2021) · Physical Review A · doi:10.1103/physreva.103.033703 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Self-citationScrambling time for analogue black holes embedded in AdS space
Wang, Q.-B., Yu, M.-H., & Ge, X.-H. (2022) · The European Physical Journal C · doi:10.1140/epjc/s10052-022-10438-2 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
“studied the generation of positive and negative ion pairs near the event horizon of black holes [19].”
BackgroundHorizon thermalization of Kerr black hole through local instability
Dalui, S., & Majhi, B. R. (2022) · Physics Letters B · doi:10.1016/j.physletb.2022.136899 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
“Incidentally, this exact feature has been experimentally verified in a recent investigation [26] on an analog black hole made by photon chip.”
BackgroundScrambling‐Enhanced Quantum Battery Charging in Black Hole Analogues
Liu, Z., Li, Y., Tian, Z., & Wang, J. (2025) · Advanced Science · doi:10.1002/advs.202520281 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Optical simulation of various phenomena in curved space on photonic chips
Sheng, C., Zhu, S. N., & Liu, H. (2022) · Advances in Physics X · doi:10.1080/23746149.2022.2153626 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
“Y. Wang et al [132]. proposed and experimentally demonstrated a quantum evolution of fermions in close proximity to an artificial black hole, which was emulated using bilayer waveguide arrays fabricated by a femtosecond laser direct writing technique (see Figure 5(a)).”
MethodSelf-citationExperimental realization of quantum walks near synthetic horizons on photonic lattices
He, R., Zhao, Y., Sheng, C., Duan, J., Wei, Y., Sun, C., Lu, L., Gong, Y.-X., Zhu, S., & Liu, H. (2024) · Physical Review Research · doi:10.1103/physrevresearch.6.013233 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Self-citationAnomalous π modes by Floquet engineering in optical lattices with long-range coupling
Wu, S., Song, W., Lin, Z., et al. (2022) · Optics Express · doi:10.1364/oe.476899 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Self-citationComputational quantum field theory for fermion pair creation in two-dimensional curved spacetimes
Alkhateeb, M., Edwards, J. P., & Caudano, Y. (2026) · Physical review. D/Physical review. D. · doi:10.1103/gb8d-kqc5 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“…of quantum field theory in curved spacetimes in predicting Hawking radiation has inspired further studies in the emerging field of gravity analogues, including optical [13, 14] and acoustic [15, 16] versions of black holes, as well as black hole analogues in condensed matter systems [17, 18].”
Xu, Q., Rong, J., Zeng, Q., et al. (2024) · Results in Physics · doi:10.1016/j.rinp.2024.108027 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Femtosecond laser induced excited-state dynamics in α-quartz: A theoretical study
Zhao, R., Wang, N., Zhu, G., Pei, W., Wang, X., & Wang, L. (2026) · ChemPhysMater · doi:10.1016/j.chphma.2026.05.003 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Research progress of analogical gravitation on optical metamaterial chips
Sheng, C., Liu, H., & Zhu, S. N. (2020) · Acta Physica Sinica · doi:10.7498/aps.69.20200183 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Self-citationAubry-André-Harper momentum-state chain in curved spacetime
Yiyi, M. A. O., & Hanning, D. A. I. (2024) · Acta Physica Sinica · doi:10.7498/aps.74.20241592
- Authors
- Wang, Y., Sheng, C., Lu, Y.-H., Gao, J., Chang, Y.-J., Pang, X.-L., Yang, T.-H., Zhu, S.-N., Liu, H., & Jin, X.-M.
- Affiliations
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University (CN)
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures (CN)
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and School of Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
- University of Science and Technology of China (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Liu, Hui
- Jin, Xian-Min
- Venue
- National Science Review
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2020-05-30
- Volume
- 7
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1476-1484
- ISSN
- 2053-714X (ISSN-L)
- 2095-5138
- PMC
- PMC8288817
- OpenAlex
- W3032722372
- Cited by
- 18
- References
- 56
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1
- FWCI
- 1.11
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- National Science Review (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- National Key Research and Development Program of China (2017YFA0303700, 2017YFA0303702, 2017YFA0205700, 2019YFA0308700)
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (11690033, 61734005, 11761141014, 61425018, 11621091, 11704181)
- Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (17JC1400403)
- Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (2017-01-07-00-02-E00049)
- National Postdoctoral Program for Innovative Talents (BX201600070)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Nuclear and High Energy Physics › Black Holes and Theoretical Physics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Quantum Electrodynamics and Casimir Effect
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Statistical and Nonlinear Physics › Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories
- Keywords
- quantum simulation, event horizon, Hawking radiation, fermion pairs, quantum gravity, quantum field theory in curved spacetime, photonic chip, negative energy, single-photon wave packets
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