Emergent glassy behavior in a kagome Rydberg atom array

TL;DR

This paper reports large-scale quantum Monte Carlo simulations revealing emergent glassy behavior in a disorder-free kagome Rydberg atom array, identifying phase transitions and slow dynamics characteristic of a quantum disordered phase.

Contribution

It demonstrates the existence of a glassy phase in a realistic, disorder-free Rydberg system and characterizes its properties and phase transitions using advanced simulation techniques.

Findings

Emergent glassy phase identified between valence bond solid phases

Slow imaginary time dynamics within the glassy phase

Phase transitions characterized by Edwards-Anderson order parameter

Abstract

We present large-scale quantum Monte Carlo simulation results on a realistic Hamiltonian of kagome-lattice Rydberg atom arrays. Although the system has no intrinsic disorder, intriguingly, our analyses of static and dynamic properties on large system sizes reveal \textit{emergent} glassy behavior in a region of parameter space located between two valence bond solid phases. The extent of this glassy region is demarcated using the Edwards-Anderson order parameter, and its phase transitions to the two proximate valence bond solids -- as well as the crossover towards a trivial paramagnetic phase -- are identified. We demonstrate the intrinsically slow (imaginary) time dynamics deep inside the glassy phase and discuss experimental considerations for detecting such a quantum disordered phase with numerous nearly degenerate local minima. Our proposal paves a new route to the study of real-time glassy phenomena and highlights the potential for quantum simulation of a distinct phase of quantum matter beyond solids and liquids in current-generation Rydberg platforms.