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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.

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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