  Shortcuts to adiabaticity constitute a powerful alternative that speed up
time-evolution while mimicking adiabatic dynamics. They are also relevant to
clarify fundamental questions such as a precise quantification of the third
principle of thermodynamics and quantum speed limits. In this letter we
describe, for the first time, how to implement shortcuts to adiabaticity in
quantum field theory, for the particular case of a massless scalar field inside
a cavity with a moving wall, in 1 + 1 dimensions. The approach is based on the
known solution to the problem that exploits the conformal symmetry, and the
shortcuts take place whenever there is no dynamical Casimir effect. We obtain a
fundamental limit for the efficiency of an Otto cycle with the quantum field as
a working system, that depends on the maximum velocity that the mirror can
attain. We describe possible experimental realizations of the shortcuts using
superconducting circuits.
