Many-Body Physics from Spin-Phonon Coupling in Rydberg Atom Arrays

TL;DR

This paper explores how including atomic vibrations in Rydberg atom arrays introduces spin-phonon coupling, leading to new phases and affecting thermalization, with implications for quantum many-body physics.

Contribution

It demonstrates the effects of atomic vibrations on spin models in Rydberg arrays, revealing new symmetry-breaking phases and thermalization behaviors.

Findings

Spin-phonon coupling induces a new symmetry-breaking phase.

Atomic vibrations suppress quantum thermalization violations.

Results are experimentally testable with current Rydberg setups.

Abstract

The rapid advancement of quantum science and technology has established Rydberg atom arrays as a premier platform for exploring quantum many-body physics with exceptional precision and controllability. Traditionally, each atom is modeled as a spin degree of freedom with its spatial motion effectively frozen. This simplification has facilitated the discovery of a rich variety of novel equilibrium and non-equilibrium phases, including $\mathbb{Z}_{\text{N}}$ symmetry-breaking orders and quantum scars. In this work, we investigate the consequences of incorporating atomic vibrations in optical tweezers, which give rise to spin-phonon coupling. For systems in thermal equilibrium, we find that this coupling leads to a new symmetry-breaking phase in the weak driving limit, as a result of induced three-spin interactions. Furthermore, we show that the violation of quantum thermalization in $\mathbb{Z}_2$-ordered states is suppressed when spin-phonon coupling is introduced. Our results are readily testable in state-of-the-art Rydberg atom array experiments.