Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Science

An interacting topological phase

Jelena Stajic

Published Aug 22, 2019• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Quantum Simulation Most topologically nontrivial systems discovered to date consist of noninteracting particles. Their properties can therefore be explained within a single-particle picture. De Leseleuc et al. engineered a topological phase of bosonic atoms in which interactions play a crucial role. The atoms, which were in highly excited Rydberg states, were held in an array of optical tweezers. Depending on the spatial arrangement of the tweezers, the dipole-dipole interactions between the atoms gave rise to two configurations with different topological properties. Science , this issue p. [775][1] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aav9105

DOI
10.1126/science.365.6455.769-n

Related papers

Average topological phase in a disordered Rydberg atom array

Zong-Pei Yue, Yu-Feng Mao, Xinhui Liang +8 more

Abstract Topological phases of matter can appear in noninteracting systems, as in band topology, or interacting systems, such as in spin models, with their defining features typically robust against weak disorder. Intriguingly, disorder itself can also induce topological phases--exemplified by the Anderson topological insulator in noninteracting systems. Experimental studies on disorder-induced topology have so far been limited to band topology. Here we report direct observations of disorder-induced many-body interacting average topological order in an atom array at half-filling, whereby random offsets to tweezer locations forming a lattice implement structural disorder, causing fluctuating long-range dipolar interactions between tweezer confined single atoms. The ground state degeneracy in disordered configurations is detected and compared to the regular lattice. The induced topological phase is vindicated by the spatially resolved atom-atom correlation functions for different forms of dimer compositions. By probing the quench dynamics of a highly excited state, we observe markedly slower decay of edge spin magnetization in comparison to the bulk spin, consistent with the presence of topologically protected edge modes in disordered lattices. Our experiments open a new direction for studying the interplay between disorder and strongly interacting topological matter in Rydberg atom arrays.

arXiv:2505.06286•Nature Physics•Apr 20, 2026•7 citations

Observation of a symmetry-protected topological phase of interacting bosons with Rydberg atoms

Sylvain de Léséleuc, Vincent Lienhard, Pascal Scholl +6 more

The concept of topological phases is a powerful framework for characterizing ground states of quantum many-body systems that goes beyond the paradigm of symmetry breaking. Topological phases can appear in condensed-matter systems naturally, whereas the implementation and study of such quantum many-body ground states in artificial matter require careful engineering. Here, we report the experimental realization of a symmetry-protected topological phase of interacting bosons in a one-dimensional lattice and demonstrate a robust ground state degeneracy attributed to protected zero-energy edge states. The experimental setup is based on atoms trapped in an array of optical tweezers and excited into Rydberg levels, which gives rise to hard-core bosons with an effective hopping generated by dipolar exchange interaction.

arXiv:1810.13286•Science•Aug 1, 2019•552 citations

Rydberg atoms, topological order and quantum magnets

1. Observation of a symmetry-protected topological phase of interacting bosons with Rydberg atoms Authors: Sylvain de Léséleuc, Vincent Lienhard, Pascal Scholl, Daniel Barredo, Sebastian Weber, Nicolai Lang, Hans Peter Büchler, Thierry Lahaye, and Antoine Browaeys Science 365, 775–780 (2019); DOI: 10.1126/science.aav9105 arXiv:1810.13286 2. Synthetic three-dimensional atomic structures assembled atom by atom Authors: Daniel Barredo, Vincent […]

Journal Club for Condensed Matter Physics•Aug 30, 2019•0 citations

Topological phases of ultracold molecules in an optical tweezer ladder

Jinzhu Jiang, Jia-Hui Zhang, Feng Mei +5 more

The recent experimental realization of optical tweezer arrays of ultracold molecules provides a versatile platform for exploring molecular phases of matter. Here we show that by programming tweezers, the dipolar interactions in an optical tweezer ladder could be tailored to implement a generalized Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model. Through calculating topological invariants, nonlocal string-order parameters, many-particle ground-state degeneracy, and entanglement spectrum, we demonstrate that this ladder at the single-particle level supports two different chiral topological phases and at the many-particle level features two different interacting topological phases and, respectively, possesses much richer topological edge states. We also discuss the detection of these topological phases and their robustness to systematic imperfections. Further generalization to a high dimension could offer opportunities for preparing diverse ultracold molecular topological phases.

Physical Review A•Aug 25, 2022•2 citations

Two-dimensional arrays of individual Rydberg atoms for quantum simulation of spin Hamiltonians

Thierry Lahaye, Sylvain de Léséleuc, Daniel Barreda +2 more

In our experiments, we generate arrays of up to 50 optical tweezers arranged in arbitrary two-dimensional geometries, each containing a single cold atom, and separated by distances of a few micrometers (Fig. 1). This is achieved by active sorting of atoms in larger arrays that are initially loaded stochastically [1]. By exciting the atoms to Rydberg states (with principal quantum numbers in the range 50-100), we can induce strong, tunable dipolar interactions between the atoms [2].

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)•Jun 1, 2017•0 citations

Going beyond the first Chern number

Jelena Stajic

Quantum Simulation Topological properties of physical systems are reflected in so-called Chern numbers: A nonzero Chern number typically means that a system is topologically nontrivial. Sugawa et al. engineered a cold atom system with a nonzero second Chern number, in contrast to condensed matter physics, where only the first Chern number is usually invoked. The exotic topology relates to the emergence of a type of magnetic monopole called the Yang monopole (known from theoretical high-energy physics) in a five-dimensional space of internal degrees of freedom in a rubidium Bose-Einstein condensate. The results illustrate the potential of cold atoms physics to simulate high-energy phenomena. Science , this issue p. [1429][1] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aam9031

Science•Jun 28, 2018•0 citations
Quantum Simulation
Most topologically nontrivial systems discovered to date consist of noninteracting particles. Their properties can therefore be explained within a single-particle picture. De Leseleuc et al. engineered a topological phase of bosonic atoms in which interactions play a crucial role. The atoms, which were in highly excited Rydberg states, were held in an array of optical tweezers. Depending on the spatial arrangement of the tweezers, the dipole-dipole interactions between the atoms gave rise to two configurations with different topological properties.
Science , this issue p. 775
Abstract Topological phases of matter can appear in noninteracting systems, as in band topology, or interacting systems, such as in spin models, with their defining features typically robust against weak disorder. Intriguingly, disorder itself can also induce topological phases--exemplified by the Anderson topological insulator in noninteracting systems. Experimental studies on disorder-induced topology have so far been limited to band topology. Here we report direct observations of disorder-induced many-body interacting average topological order in an atom array at half-filling, whereby random offsets to tweezer locations forming a lattice implement structural disorder, causing fluctuating long-range dipolar interactions between tweezer confined single atoms. The ground state degeneracy in disordered configurations is detected and compared to the regular lattice. The induced topological phase is vindicated by the spatially resolved atom-atom correlation functions for different forms of dimer compositions. By probing the quench dynamics of a highly excited state, we observe markedly slower decay of edge spin magnetization in comparison to the bulk spin, consistent with the presence of topologically protected edge modes in disordered lattices. Our experiments open a new direction for studying the interplay between disorder and strongly interacting topological matter in Rydberg atom arrays.
The concept of topological phases is a powerful framework for characterizing ground states of quantum many-body systems that goes beyond the paradigm of symmetry breaking. Topological phases can appear in condensed-matter systems naturally, whereas the implementation and study of such quantum many-body ground states in artificial matter require careful engineering. Here, we report the experimental realization of a symmetry-protected topological phase of interacting bosons in a one-dimensional lattice and demonstrate a robust ground state degeneracy attributed to protected zero-energy edge states. The experimental setup is based on atoms trapped in an array of optical tweezers and excited into Rydberg levels, which gives rise to hard-core bosons with an effective hopping generated by dipolar exchange interaction.
The recent experimental realization of optical tweezer arrays of ultracold molecules provides a versatile platform for exploring molecular phases of matter. Here we show that by programming tweezers, the dipolar interactions in an optical tweezer ladder could be tailored to implement a generalized Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model. Through calculating topological invariants, nonlocal string-order parameters, many-particle ground-state degeneracy, and entanglement spectrum, we demonstrate that this ladder at the single-particle level supports two different chiral topological phases and at the many-particle level features two different interacting topological phases and, respectively, possesses much richer topological edge states. We also discuss the detection of these topological phases and their robustness to systematic imperfections. Further generalization to a high dimension could offer opportunities for preparing diverse ultracold molecular topological phases.
Quantum Simulation Topological properties of physical systems are reflected in so-called Chern numbers: A nonzero Chern number typically means that a system is topologically nontrivial. Sugawa et al. engineered a cold atom system with a nonzero second Chern number, in contrast to condensed matter physics, where only the first Chern number is usually invoked. The exotic topology relates to the emergence of a type of magnetic monopole called the Yang monopole (known from theoretical high-energy physics) in a five-dimensional space of internal degrees of freedom in a rubidium Bose-Einstein condensate. The results illustrate the potential of cold atoms physics to simulate high-energy phenomena. Science , this issue p. [1429][1] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aam9031