Probing Antiferromagnetic Hysteresis on Programmable Quantum Annealers

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how programmable quantum annealers can simulate antiferromagnetic hysteresis, revealing magnetic memory effects and emergent domains driven by quantum fluctuations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel protocol using quantum annealers to probe magnetic hysteresis and memory in antiferromagnets, highlighting quantum effects in magnetic phenomena.

Findings

Evidence of full saturation and reversal of hysteresis curves

Emergent magnetic domains mediated by quantum fluctuations

Observation of magnetic memory effects in antiferromagnets

Abstract

Using programmable analog quantum annealing processors, we implement a sampling-based magnetic hysteresis protocol to probe the counterintuitive notion of magnetic memory of antiferromagnets. A key component of this protocol responsible for the hysteresis is a transverse field, which enables state transitions, while the magnetic field sweep is done via a longitudinal control field. We present evidence of full saturation and reversal of the hysteresis curve, as well as emergent magnetic domain mediated by quantum fluctuations that give rise to the magnetic memory effect in antiferromagnets.