Quantum coarsening and collective dynamics on a programmable simulator

TL;DR

This paper experimentally investigates collective quantum dynamics in a 2D Ising model using a programmable Rydberg atom array, revealing domain coarsening, boundary curvature effects, and oscillations near a quantum critical point.

Contribution

It demonstrates real-time observation of domain coarsening and collective oscillations in a programmable quantum simulator across a quantum phase transition.

Findings

Growth of antiferromagnetic domains after crossing the critical point

Coarsening driven by boundary curvature of domains

Observation of long-lived Higgs mode oscillations

Abstract

Understanding the collective quantum dynamics of nonequilibrium many-body systems is an outstanding challenge in quantum science. In particular, dynamics driven by quantum fluctuations are important for the formation of exotic quantum phases of matter, fundamental high-energy processes, quantum metrology, and quantum algorithms. Here, we use a programmable quantum simulator based on Rydberg atom arrays to experimentally study collective dynamics across a (2+1)D Ising quantum phase transition. After crossing the quantum critical point, we observe a gradual growth of correlations through coarsening of antiferromagnetically ordered domains. By deterministically preparing and following the evolution of ordered domains, we show that the coarsening is driven by the curvature of domain boundaries, and find that the dynamics accelerate with proximity to the quantum critical point. We quantitatively explore these phenomena and further observe long-lived oscillations of the order parameter, corresponding to an amplitude (Higgs) mode. These observations offer a unique viewpoint into emergent collective dynamics in strongly correlated quantum systems and nonequilibrium quantum processes.