Recent atomic physics experiments and numerical works have reported complementary signatures of the emergence of a topological quantum spin liquid in models with blockade interactions. However, the specific mechanism stabilizing such a phase remains unclear. Here, we introduce an exact relation between an Ising-Higgs lattice gauge theory on the kagome lattice and blockaded models on Ruby lattices. This relation elucidates the origin of previously observed topological spin liquids by directly linking the latter to a deconfined phase of a solvable gauge theory. By means of exact diagonalization and unbiased quantum Monte Carlo simulations, we show that the deconfined phases extend in a broad region of the parameter space; these states are characterized by a large ground state overlap with resonating valence bond wave functions. These blockaded models include both creation or annihilation and hopping dynamics, and can be experimentally realized with Rydberg-dressed atoms, offering novel and controllable platforms for the engineering and characterization of spin liquid states.
Recent atomic physics experiments and numerical works have reported complementary signatures of the emergence of a topological quantum spin liquid in models with blockade interactions. However, the specific mechanism stabilizing such a phase remains unclear. Here, we introduce an exact relation between an Ising-Higgs lattice gauge theory on the kagome lattice and blockaded models on Ruby lattices. This relation elucidates the origin of previously observed topological spin liquids by directly linking the latter to a deconfined phase of a solvable gauge theory. By means of exact diagonalization and unbiased quantum Monte Carlo simulations, we show that the deconfined phases extend in a broad region of the parameter space; these states are characterized by a large ground state overlap with resonating valence bond wave functions. These blockaded models include both creation or annihilation and hopping dynamics, and can be experimentally realized with Rydberg-dressed atoms, offering novel and controllable platforms for the engineering and characterization of spin liquid states.
Quantum spin liquids are exotic phases of matter whose low-energy physics is described as the deconfined phase of an emergent gauge theory. With recent theory proposals and an experiment showing preliminary signs of Z 2 topological order [G. Semeghini , ], Rydberg atom arrays have emerged as a promising platform to realize a quantum spin liquid. In this work, we propose a way to realize a U(1) quantum spin liquid in three spatial dimensions, described by the deconfined phase of U(1) gauge theory in a pyrochlore lattice Rydberg atom array. We study the ground state phase diagram of the proposed Rydberg system as a function of experimentally relevant parameters. Within our calculation, we find that by tuning the Rabi frequency, one can access both the confinement-deconfinement transition driven by a proliferation of “magnetic” monopoles and the Higgs transition driven by a proliferation of “electric” charges of the emergent gauge theory. We suggest experimental probes for distinguishing the deconfined phase from ordered phases. This work serves as a proposal to access a confinement-deconfinement transition in three spatial dimensions on a Rydberg-based quantum simulator.
The exploration of quantum spin liquids (QSLs) has been guided by different approaches including the resonating valence bond (RVB) picture, deconfined lattice gauge theories, and the Kitaev model.More recently, a spin-liquid ground state was numerically established on the ruby lattice, inspired by the Rydberg blockade mechanism.Here, we unify these varied approaches in a single parent Hamiltonian, in which local fluctuations of anyons stabilize deconfinement.The parent Hamiltonian is defined on kagomé triangleseach hosting four RVB-like states-and includes only Ising interactions and single-site transverse fields.In the weak-field limit, the ruby spin liquid and exactly soluble kagomé dimer models are recovered, while the strong-field limit reduces to the Kitaev honeycomb model, thereby unifying three seemingly different approaches to QSLs.We similarly obtain the chiral Yao-Kivelson model, the honeycomb toric code, and a new spin-1 quadrupolar Kitaev model.The last is shown to be in a QSL phase by a nonlocal mapping to the kagomé Ising antiferromagnet.We demonstrate various applications of our framework, including (a) an adiabatic deformation of the ruby lattice model to the exactly soluble kagomé dimer model, conclusively establishing the QSL phase in the former and (b) demystifying the dynamical protocol for measuring offdiagonal strings in the Rydberg implementation of the ruby lattice spin liquid.More generally, we find an intimate connection between Kitaev couplings and the repulsive interactions used for emergent dimer models.For instance, we show how a spin-1=2 XXZ model on the ruby lattice encodes a Kitaev honeycomb model, providing a new route toward realizing the latter in cold-atom or solid-state systems.
The physical realization of Z 2 topological order as encountered in the paradigmatic toric code has proven to be an elusive goal.We predict that this phase of matter can be realized in a two-dimensional array of Rydberg atoms placed on the ruby lattice, at specific values of the Rydberg blockade radius.First, we show that the blockade model-also known as a "PXP" model-realizes a monomer-dimer model on the kagome lattice with a single-site kinetic term.This model can be interpreted as a Z 2 gauge theory whose dynamics is generated by monomer fluctuations.We obtain its phase diagram using the numerical density matrix renormalization group method and find a topological quantum liquid (TQL) as evidenced by multiple measures including (i) a continuous transition between two featureless phases, (ii) a topological entanglement entropy of ln 2 as measured in various geometries, (iii) degenerate topological ground states, and (iv) the expected modular matrix from ground state overlap.Next, we show that the TQL persists upon including realistic, algebraically decaying van der Waals interactions VðrÞ ∼ 1=r 6 for a choice of lattice parameters.Moreover, we can directly access topological loop operators, including the Fredenhagen-Marcu order parameter.We show how these can be measured experimentally using a dynamic protocol, providing a "smoking gun" experimental signature of the TQL phase.Finally, we show how to trap an emergent anyon and realize different topological boundary conditions, and we discuss the implications for exploring fault-tolerant quantum memories.
Abstract Recently the Rydberg blockade effect has been utilized to realize quantum spin liquid (QSL) on a kagome lattice. Evidence of QSL has been obtained experimentally by directly measuring non-local string order. In this paper, we report a Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer (BCS)-type variational wave function study of the spin liquid state in this model. This wave function is motivated by mapping the Rydberg blockade model to a lattice gauge theory, where the local gauge conservations replace the role of constraints from the Rydberg blockade. We determine the variational parameter from the experimental measurement of the Rydberg atom population. Then we compare the predictions of this deterministic wave function with the experimental measurements of non-local string order. Combining the measurements on both open and closed strings, we extract the fluctuations only associated with the closed-loop as an indicator of the topological order. The prediction from our wave function agrees reasonably well with the experimental data, with only one fitting parameter determined by measurement of Rydberg atom population. Our variational wave function provides a simple and intuitive picture of the QSL in this system that can be generalized to similar spin liquid phases in other lattice geometry.
Quantum phases with topological order, such as quantum spin liquids, have been the focus of explorations for several decades. Such phases feature a number of remarkable properties including long-range quantum entanglement. Moreover, they can be potentially exploited for the realization of robust quantum computation, as exemplified by the paradigmatic toric code model. While some indications that such phases may be present in frustrated condensed matter systems have been previously reported, so far quantum spin liquids have eluded direct experimental detection. In this talk, I will show how a programmable quantum simulator based on Rydberg atom arrays can be used to realize and probe quantum spin liquid states. In our approach, atoms are placed on the links of a kagome lattice and coherent evolution under Rydberg blockade enables the transition into frustrated quantum states with no local order. We detect the onset of a quantum spin liquid phase of the toric code type by measuring topological string operators in two complementary bases. The properties of this state are further revealed using a lattice with non-trivial topology, representing a step towards the realization of a topological qubit. Our observations open the door to the controlled experimental exploration of topological quantum matter, and could enable the investigation of new methods for topologically protected quantum information processing.
Kagome spin liquid: a deconfined critical phase driven by U(1) gauge fluctuation
We investigate the nature of quantum spin liquid (QSL) phase of the spin-1/2 nearest-neighbor XXZ antiferromagnet on the kagome lattice. Recent numerical calculations suggest that such a kagome spin liquid is insensitive to the XXZ anisotropy and is adjacent to a chiral spin liquid phase. Reformulating the problem in terms of a U(1) lattice gauge theory with dynamical bosonic spinons, we propose that the kagome spin liquid can be understood as a deconfined critical phase extended by the U(1) gauge fluctuation from a deconfined critical point between a symmetry-protected topological phase and a superfluid phase. Crucially, the stability of this QSL is ensured by the gauge fluctuation and hence our description necessarily falls beyond the conventional mean-field constructions of QSLs. Our work also makes an interesting connection between the critical spin liquid, deconfined criticality, symmetry protected topological phase and topological order.