Quantum spin-ice and dimer models with Rydberg atoms

By A. Glaetzle, Marcello Dalmonte, R. Nath, I. Rousochatzakis, Roderich Moessner, Peter Zoller. 2014

137 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Quantum spin-ice represents a paradigmatic example of how the physics of frustrated magnets is related to gauge theories. In the present work, we address the problem of approximately realizing quantum spin ice in two dimensions with cold atoms in optical lattices. The relevant interactions are obtained by weakly laser-admixing Rydberg states to the atomic ground-states, exploiting the strong angular dependence of van der Waals interactions between Rydberg p states together with the possibility of designing steplike potentials. This allows us to implement Abelian gauge theories in a series of geometries, which could be demonstrated within state-of-the-art atomic Rydberg experiments. We numerically analyze the family of resulting microscopic Hamiltonians and find that they exhibit both classical and quantum order by disorder, the latter yielding a quantum plaquette valence bond solid. We also present strategies to implement Abelian gauge theories using both s- and p-Rydberg states in exotic geometries, e.g., on a 4-8 lattice.

Subfields: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Condensed Matter Physics, Geometry and Topology

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/411a64928928a3eedee302097e8ae9bc3e838c32

How researchers see this paper

The researchers whose trusted networks rank it highest, strongest advocate first. Every researcher gets a different order.

In Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

In Condensed Matter Physics

In Geometry and Topology

Citations in the corpus

Topological quantum matter with ultracold gases in optical lattices (2016, background): “In particular, an experimentally feasible scheme for the realization of quantum spin ice has been reported [123].”
Prediction of Toric Code Topological Order from Rydberg Blockade (2020, background): “At the same time, the special features of the Rydberg atom interactions make them attractive platforms for realizing emergent lattice gauge theories and quantum dimer models [42–47].”
Lattice gauge theory simulations in the quantum information era (2016, background): “is quantum Ice on the square lattice [27].”
Simulating lattice gauge theories within quantum technologies (2019, methodology): “ot of the dressed ground state interaction V~ ij(r)=V~0 between the atom in the middle (yellow circle) and the surrounding atoms (black circles) arranged on a square lattice. Figure adapted from Ref. [178]. eld is integrated out by means of the Gauss local symmetries. 6.2.8 Toolbox for Abelian latti”
Many-body physics with individually controlled Rydberg atoms (2020, background): “In order to reach much longer lifetimes, at the expense of reducing the interaction strength, the idea of Rydberg dressing has been proposed [64–68].”