Engineering Perfect Transport in Spin Chains

Simulating transport phenomena in quantum materials is crucial for uncovering new approaches to information processing and for developing practical quantum devices. Rydberg atom arrays have emerged as a promising platform for the quantum simulation of out-of-equilibrium quantum dynamics due to their ability to realize quantum spin models on arbitrary geometries with controllable disorder, defects, and interactions. However, the realization of spin models driving spin transport typically relies on Hamiltonian engineering methods with reduced accuracy when accounting for experimental imperfections and realistic noise parameters. Here, we characterize the performance of two complementary protocols to realize ballistic transport of single-spin excitations in chains of Rb-87 atoms. We find the set of parameters for which a perfect transport condition is achieved in a one-dimensional spin chain. We then use the probability of transporting a single-spin excitation as a metric to quantify the breakdown of perturbative methods and the detrimental effects of long-range interactions, noisy control parameters, and spin-motion entanglement. We optimize over the set of control parameters, highlighting a competition between stronger driving rates, shorter lifetimes, and breakdown of perturbative approximations. We further propose utilizing perfect spin transport fidelity as a tool for benchmarking the realization of effective spin models, as well as the engineering of information transport. This work paves the way for near-term study of spin transport in chains, rings, lattices, and arbitrary graphs. Our results pave the way for engineering control operations and distributing entanglement among distant spins, as well as offering an approach to certify the engineering of effective spin models.