Quantum Kibble-Zurek mechanism and critical dynamics on a programmable Rydberg simulator

TL;DR

This paper uses a programmable Rydberg atom quantum simulator to experimentally verify the quantum Kibble-Zurek mechanism, explore critical dynamics, and measure critical exponents in various quantum phase transitions, advancing understanding of non-equilibrium quantum systems.

Contribution

It demonstrates the first experimental verification of the quantum Kibble-Zurek mechanism on a programmable Rydberg simulator and measures critical exponents in exotic quantum models.

Findings

Verified quantum Kibble-Zurek mechanism in Rydberg systems

Measured critical exponents for chiral clock models

Observed corrections beyond standard QKZM predictions

Abstract

Quantum phase transitions (QPTs) involve transformations between different states of matter that are driven by quantum fluctuations. These fluctuations play a dominant role in the quantum critical region surrounding the transition point, where the dynamics are governed by the universal properties associated with the QPT. While time-dependent phenomena associated with classical, thermally driven phase transitions have been extensively studied in systems ranging from the early universe to Bose Einstein Condensates, understanding critical real-time dynamics in isolated, non-equilibrium quantum systems is an outstanding challenge. Here, we use a Rydberg atom quantum simulator with programmable interactions to study the quantum critical dynamics associated with several distinct QPTs. By studying the growth of spatial correlations while crossing the QPT, we experimentally verify the quantum Kibble-Zurek mechanism (QKZM) for an Ising-type QPT, explore scaling universality, and observe corrections beyond QKZM predictions. This approach is subsequently used to measure the critical exponents associated with chiral clock models, providing new insights into exotic systems that have not been understood previously, and opening the door for precision studies of critical phenomena, simulations of lattice gauge theories and applications to quantum optimization.