Mixed-State Quantum Spin Liquids and Dynamical Anyon Condensations in Kitaev Lindbladians

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that decoherence and dissipation in open quantum systems can induce topological phase transitions in quantum spin liquids, specifically through dynamical anyon condensation in Kitaev Lindbladians.

Contribution

It reveals that environmental effects can lead to novel topological phenomena, including anyon condensation, in quantum spin liquids modeled by Lindblad dynamics.

Findings

Decoherence causes dynamical anyon condensation in Kitaev spin liquids.

Topological transition from initial to steady state spin liquid observed.

Provides a mechanism linking Lindblad dynamics to topological phase changes.

Abstract

Quantum spin liquids and anyons, used to be subjects of condensed matter physics, now are realized in various platforms of qubits, offering unprecedented opportunities to investigate fundamental physics of many-body quantum entangled states. Qubits are inevitably exposed to environment effects such as decoherence and dissipation, which are believed to be detrimental to many-body entanglement. Here, we argue that unlike the common belief decoherence and dissipation can give rise to novel topological phenomena in quantum spin liquids. We study open quantum systems of the Kitaev spin liquid and the toric code via the Lindblad master equation approach. By using exact solutions and numerical approaches, we show the dynamical occurrence of anyon condensation by decoherence and dissipation, which results in a topological transition from the initial state spin liquid to the steady state spin liquid. The mechanism of the anyon condensation transition by the Lindblad dynamics is elucidated. We also provide an insight into the relationship between the Kitaev spin liquid and the toric code in the picture of anyon condensation. Our work suggests open quantum systems to be a new venue for topological phenomena of quantum spin liquids and anyons.