Probing low-temperature phases of XXZ models in a trapped ion quantum simulator

Quantum simulators provide a powerful platform for studying exotic phases of matter, particularly in systems with long-range interactions that are challenging to explore in conventional physical systems. Here, we realize a spin-1/2 XXZ model with tunable interaction anisotropy and range in a 1D trapped ion quantum simulator. Utilizing a strong driving field along a variable axis and arbitrary single-qubit control, we adiabatically prepare and characterize low-temperature states of this model. In particular, we probe the confluence of two distinct Z2-symmetry phases: a dimerized valence bond solid (VBS) phase, absent in nearest-neighbor analogues, and an Ising antiferromagnetic phase. We analyze the joint distributions of the corresponding order parameters and dynamically probe low-energy excitations within these phases. This work opens the door to exploring diverse quantum phases in low-dimensional systems using highly controllable analogue quantum simulators.