Verification of a many-ion simulator of the Dicke model through slow quenches across a phase transition

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a trapped ion quantum simulator for the Dicke model, successfully performing slow quenches across a phase transition and validating the dynamics through theory-experiment comparisons, paving the way for advanced quantum studies.

Contribution

First experimental realization of the Dicke model in a trapped ion system with validation through extensive benchmarking against theoretical predictions.

Findings

Excellent agreement between experiment and theory

Successful implementation of slow quenches across the phase transition

Potential for generating entangled states for quantum metrology

Abstract

We use a self-assembled two-dimensional Coulomb crystal of $\sim 70$ ions in the presence of an external transverse field to engineer a simulator of the Dicke Hamiltonian, an iconic model in quantum optics which features a quantum phase transition between a superradiant/ferromagnetic and a normal/paramagnetic phase. We experimentally implement slow quenches across the quantum critical point and benchmark the dynamics and the performance of the simulator through extensive theory-experiment comparisons which show excellent agreement. The implementation of the Dicke model in fully controllable trapped ion arrays can open a path for the generation of highly entangled states useful for enhanced metrology and the observation of scrambling and quantum chaos in a many-body system.