No Arabic abstract
We propose the construction of a many-body phase of matter with fractal structure using arrays of Rydberg atoms. The degenerate low energy excited states of this phase form a self-similar fractal structure. This phase is analogous to the so-called type-II fracton topological states. The main challenge in realizing fracton-like models in standard condensed matter platforms is the creation of multi-spin interactions, since realistic systems are typically dominated by two-body interactions. In this work, we demonstrate that the Van der Waals interaction and experimental tunability of Rydberg-based platforms enable the simulation of exotic phases of matter with fractal structures, and the study of a quantum phase transition involving a fractal ordered phase.
Quantum spin ice represents a paradigmatic example on how the physics of frustrated magnets is related to gauge theories. In the present work we address the problem of approximately realizing quantum spin ice in two dimensions with cold atoms in optical lattices. The relevant interactions are obtained by weakly admixing van der Waals interactions between laser admixed Rydberg states to the atomic ground state atoms, exploiting the strong angular dependence of interactions between Rydberg p-states together with the possibility of designing step-like potentials. This allows us to implement Abelian gauge theories in a series of geometries, which could be demonstrated within state of the art atomic Rydberg experiments. We numerically analyze the family of resulting microscopic Hamiltonians and find that they exhibit both classical and quantum order by disorder, the latter yielding a quantum plaquette valence bond solid. We also present strategies to implement Abelian gauge theories using both s- and p-Rydberg states in exotic geometries, e.g. on a 4-8 lattice.
The interplay between antiferromagnetic interaction and hole motion is capable of inducing intriguing conducting topological Haldane phases described by a finite non-local string order parameter. Here we show that these states of matter are captured by the one dimensional $t-J_z$ model which can be experimentally realized with dressed Rydberg atoms trapped onto a one dimensional optical lattice. In the sector with vanishing total magnetization exact Bethe ansatz calculations associated to bosonization technique allow to predict that both metallic and superconducting topological Haldane states can be achieved. With the addition of an appropriate magnetic field the system enters in a domain wall structure with finite total magnetization. In this regime conducting topological Haldane states are confined in domains separated by regions where fully polarized Luttinger liquid occurs. A procedure to dynamically stabilize such Haldane topological phases starting from a confined Ising state is also described
We analyze the zero-temperature phases of an array of neutral atoms on the kagome lattice, interacting via laser excitation to atomic Rydberg states. Density-matrix renormalization group calculations reveal the presence of a wide variety of complex solid phases with broken lattice symmetries. In addition, we identify a novel regime with dense Rydberg excitations that has a large entanglement entropy and no local order parameter associated with lattice symmetries. From a mapping to the triangular lattice quantum dimer model, and theories of quantum phase transitions out of the proximate solid phases, we argue that this regime could contain one or more phases with topological order. Our results provide the foundation for theoretical and experimental explorations of crystalline and liquid states using programmable quantum simulators based on Rydberg atom arrays.
We numerically study the dynamics after a parameter quench in the one-dimensional transverse-field Ising model with long-range interactions ($propto 1/r^alpha$ with distance $r$), for finite chains and also directly in the thermodynamic limit. In nonequilibrium, i.e., before the system settles into a thermal state, we find a long-lived regime that is characterized by a prethermal value of the magnetization, which in general differs from its thermal value. We find that the ferromagnetic phase is stabilized dynamically: as a function of the quench parameter, the prethermal magnetization shows a transition between a symmetry-broken and a symmetric phase, even for those values of $alpha$ for which no finite-temperature transition occurs in equilibrium. The dynamical critical point is shifted with respect to the equilibrium one, and the shift is found to depend on $alpha$ as well as on the quench parameters.
Anyons are mainly studied and considered in two spatial dimensions. For fractals, the scaling dimension that characterizes the system can be non integer and can take values between that of a standard one-dimensional or two-dimensional system. Generating Hamiltonians that meet locality conditions and support anyons is not a simple task. Here, we construct a local Hamiltonian on a fractal lattice which realizes physics similar to the fractional quantum Hall effect. The fractal lattice is obtained from a second generation Sierpinski carpet, which has 64 sites, and is characterized by a Hausdorff dimension of 1.89. We demonstrate that the proposed local Hamiltonian acting on the fractal geometry has Laughlin-type topological order by creating anyons and then studying their charge and braiding statistics. We also find that the energy gap between the ground state and the first excited state is approximately three times larger for the fractal lattice than for a standard square lattice with 64 sites, and the model on the fractal lattice is significantly more robust against disorder. We propose a scheme to implement fractal lattices and our proposed local Hamiltonian for ultracold atoms in optical lattices. The discussed scheme could also be utilized to study integer quantum Hall phases and the physics of other quantum systems on fractal lattices.