Quantum simulation of dynamical gauge theories in periodically driven Rydberg atom arrays

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method using periodic driving in Rydberg atom arrays to simulate complex lattice gauge theories with tunable multi-body interactions, enabling exploration of new dynamical regimes.

Contribution

It develops a novel approach to generate multi-body interactions via time-periodic driving, facilitating the simulation of dynamical gauge theories in quantum systems.

Findings

Engineered six-body magnetic plaquette terms in a 2D U(1) lattice gauge theory.

Demonstrated tunability of multi-body interactions relative to matter kinetic energy.

Accessed previously unexplored dynamical regimes in quantum simulations.

Abstract

Simulating quantum dynamics of lattice gauge theories (LGTs) is an exciting frontier in quantum science. Programmable quantum simulators based on neutral atom arrays are a promising approach to achieve this goal, since strong Rydberg blockade interactions can be used to naturally create low energy subspaces that can encode local gauge constraints. However, realizing regimes of LGTs where both matter and gauge fields exhibit significant dynamics requires the presence of tunable multi-body interactions such as those associated with ring exchange, which are challenging to realize directly. Here, we develop a method for generating such interactions based on time-periodic driving. Our approach utilizes controlled deviations from time-reversed trajectories, which are accessible in constrained PXP-type models via the application of frequency modulated global pulses. We show that such driving gives rise to a family of effective Hamiltonians with multi-body interactions whose strength is non-perturbative in their respective operator weight. We apply this approach to a two-dimensional U(1) LGT on the Kagome lattice, where we engineer strong six-body magnetic plaquette terms that are tunable relative to the kinetic energy of matter excitations, demonstrating access to previously unexplored dynamical regimes. Potential generalizations and prospects for experimental implementations are discussed.