Continuous Symmetry Breaking in a Trapped-Ion Crystal

ORAL

Abstract

One-dimensional systems can host quantum phases of matter with macroscopic order if the interaction range between the particles is sufficiently long. In most physical systems, however, the interactions are short-range, hindering the emergence of such phases in one dimension in general. Here we use a one-dimensional trapped-ion quantum simulator to prepare a many-body state in a Continuous Symmetry Breaking (CSB) phase with long-range spin order. Our preparation relies on simultaneous control over an array of 23 tightly focused individually addressing laser beams, generating long-range spin-spin interactions. We also observe a critical XY phase when the long-range interactions are frustrated. We further study the phases at different ranges of interaction and the out-of-equilibrium response to symmetry-breaking perturbations. This work opens an avenue to study new quantum phases and out-of-equilibrium dynamics in low-dimensional systems.

**This work is supported by the ARO through the IARPA LogiQ program; the NSF STAQ program; the NSF QIS program; the NSF QLCI program; the DOE Quantum Systems Accelerator; the AFOSR MURIs on Dissipation Engineering in Open Quantum Systems, Quantum Measurement/Verification, and Quantum Interactive Protocols; and the ARO MURI on Modular Quantum Circuits.

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Presenters

  • Lei Feng

    • Duke Quantum Center and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (and Physics), Duke University, Durham, NC
    • Duke University
    • DQC, Department of ECE and Physics,Duke University

Authors

  • Lei Feng

    • Duke Quantum Center and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (and Physics), Duke University, Durham, NC
    • Duke University
    • DQC, Department of ECE and Physics,Duke University

  • Or Katz

    • Duke Quantum Center and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (and Physics), Duke University, Durham, NC
    • Duke University
    • Duke Quantum Center and Department Electrical and Computer Engineering (and Physics), Duke University, Durham, NC

  • Casey Haack

    • Department of Physics, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO
    • Colorado School of Mines

  • Andrew Risinger

    • University of Maryland, College Park
    • JQI and Departments of ECE and Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD

  • Zhexuan Gong

    • Colorado School of Mines
    • Department of Physics, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO

  • Mohammad Maghrebi

    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

  • Alexey V Gorshkov

    • JQI
    • Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science, Joint Quantum Institute, NIST/University of Maryland, College Park, MD

  • Marko Cetina

    • Duke Quantum Center and Department of Physics, Duke University, Durham, NC
    • Duke University

  • Christopher Monroe

    • Duke Quantum Center and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (and Physics), Duke University, Durham, NC; IonQ, Inc., College Park, MD 20740
    • Duke University
    • Duke Quantum Center and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (and Physics), Duke University, Durham, NC; IonQ, Inc., College Park, MD
    • Duke Quantum Center; Duke Physics & Electrical and Computer Engineering; Joint Quantum Institute; University of Maryland, College Park; IonQ
    • Duke University and IonQ, Inc.
    • Duke Quantum Center; Duke Physics; Duke Electrical and Computer Engineering; Joint Quantum Institute; University of Maryland, College Park; IonQ