Simulating Quantum Spin Models using Rydberg-Excited Atomic Ensembles in Magnetic Microtrap Arrays

TL;DR

This paper proposes a method to simulate complex quantum spin models using Rydberg atoms in magnetic microtrap arrays, enabling exploration of exotic magnetic phenomena in customizable two-dimensional lattice configurations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel scheme for quantum simulation of spin models with Rydberg atoms, including a new readout method and the potential to study frustrated magnetism.

Findings

Enables simulation of arbitrary 2D spin lattices

Proposes a single Rydberg atom avalanche readout scheme

Facilitates exploration of exotic spin models like frustrated magnetism

Abstract

We propose a scheme to simulate lattice spin models based on strong and long-range interacting Rydberg atoms stored in a large-spacing array of magnetic microtraps. Each spin is encoded in a collective spin state involving a single $nP$ Rydberg atom excited from an ensemble of ground-state alkali atoms prepared via Rydberg blockade. After the excitation laser is switched off the Rydberg spin states on neighbouring lattice sites interact via general isotropic or anisotropic spin-spin interactions. To read out the collective spin states we propose a single Rydberg atom triggered avalanche scheme in which the presence of a single Rydberg atom conditionally transfers a large number of ground-state atoms in the trap to an untrapped state which can be readily detected by site-resolved absorption imaging. Such a quantum simulator should allow the study of quantum spin systems in almost arbitrary two-dimensional configurations. This paves the way towards engineering exotic spin models, such as spin models based on triangular-symmetry lattices which can give rise to frustrated-spin magnetism.