Realistic scheme for quantum simulation of Z2 lattice gauge theories with dynamical matter in (2 + 1)D

Homeier, Lukas; Bohrdt, Annabelle; Linsel, Simon; Demler, Eugene; Halimeh, Jad C.; Grusdt, Fabian (2023): Realistic scheme for quantum simulation of Z2 lattice gauge theories with dynamical matter in (2 + 1)D. Communications Physics, 6 (1). ISSN 2399-3650

Abstract

Gauge fields coupled to dynamical matter are ubiquitous in many disciplines of physics, ranging from particle to condensed matter physics, but their implementation in large-scale quantum simulators remains challenging. Here we propose a realistic scheme for Rydberg atom array experiments in which a Z2 gauge structure with dynamical charges emerges on experimentally relevant timescales from only local two-body interactions and one-body terms in two spatial dimensions. The scheme enables the experimental study of a variety of models, including (2 + 1)D Z2 lattice gauge theories coupled to different types of dynamical matter and quantum dimer models on the honeycomb lattice, for which we derive effective Hamiltonians. We discuss ground-state phase diagrams of the experimentally most relevant effective Z2 lattice gauge theories with dynamical matter featuring various confined and deconfined, quantum spin liquid phases. Further, we present selected probes with immediate experimental relevance, including signatures of disorder-free localization and a thermal deconfinement transition of two charges.

• Doc-Type: Article (LMU)
• Organisational unit (Faculties): 17 Physics
• DFG subject classification of scientific disciplines: Natural sciences
• DFG: Funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) - 390814868
• DFG: Funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) - 277974659
• DFG: Funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) - 491502892