Quantum simulations of interacting systems with broken time-reversal symmetry

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the first quantum simulation of interacting, time-reversal symmetry broken systems using a scalable trapped-ion platform, enabling exploration of complex many-body phenomena beyond classical computational limits.

Contribution

It introduces a scalable scheme for implementing synthetic gauge fields with time-reversal breaking in a trapped-ion quantum processor, including novel coupling geometries and high-fidelity control.

Findings

First implementation of time-reversal breaking synthetic gauge fields in a trapped ion chain

Successful full state tomography of a ground state with persistent current

Observation of dynamics in a time-reversal broken system with nontrivial interactions

Abstract

Many-body systems of quantum interacting particles in which time-reversal symmetry is broken give rise to a variety of rich collective behaviors, and are therefore a major target of research in modern physics. Quantum simulators can potentially be used to explore and understand such systems, which are often beyond the computational reach of classical simulation. Of these, platforms with universal quantum control can experimentally access a wide range of physical properties. However, simultaneously achieving strong programmable interactions, strong time-reversal symmetry breaking, and high fidelity quantum control in a scalable manner is challenging. Here we realized quantum simulations of interacting, time-reversal broken quantum systems in a universal trapped-ion quantum processor. Using a scalable scheme that was recently proposed we implemented time-reversal breaking synthetic gauge fields, shown for the first time in a trapped ion chain, along with unique coupling geometries, potentially extendable to simulation of multi dimensional systems. Our high fidelity single-site resolution in control and measurement, along with highly programmable interactions, allow us to perform full state tomography of a ground state showcasing persistent current, and to observe dynamics of a time-reversal broken system with nontrivial interactions. Our results open a path towards simulation of time-reversal broken many-body systems with a wide range of features and coupling geometries.