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Emergent U(1) lattice gauge theory in Rydberg atom arrays

Nature Reviews Physics volume 6, pages 566–576 (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

Rydberg atom arrays have emerged as a novel platform exhibiting rich quantum many-body physics and offering promise for universal quantum computation. The Rydberg blockade effect plays an essential role in establishing many-body correlations in this system. Over the past 2 or 3 years, Rydberg arrays have been used to realize exotic ground states such as spin liquids, quantum many-body scar states violating quantum thermalization, and a confinement–deconfinement transition through quantum dynamics. In this Perspective, we use lattice gauge theory as a universal theoretical framework to describe the Rydberg blockade effect and the recent exciting developments in this system from equilibrium phases to quantum dynamics. Analysing Rydberg atom arrays through this theoretical framework can reveal their connection with other strongly correlated systems, such as the Fermi–Hubbard model and the lattice gauge model, which can inspire the discovery of new phenomena in this platform.

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Fig. 1: Gauge theory description of Rydberg blockade effect.
Fig. 2: Spin liquid state with Rydberg atoms array.
Fig. 3: Quantum many-body scar states in the PXP model.
Fig. 4: Thermalization across the Ising transition.
Fig. 5: Confinement–deconfinement dynamics across Ising transition.

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by the Innovation Program for Quantum Science and Technology 2021ZD0302005, the XPLORER Prize, NSFC Grant numbers U23A6004, 12204034 and 12374251, Tsinghua University Initiative Scientific Research Program, and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No.FRFTP-22-101A1).

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  1. Institute of Theoretical Physics and Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China

    Yanting Cheng

  2. Institute for Advanced Study, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

    Hui Zhai

  3. Hefei National Laboratory, Hefei, China

    Hui Zhai

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  1. Yanting Cheng
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  2. Hui Zhai
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The authors contributed equally to all aspects of the article.

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Correspondence to Hui Zhai.

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Cheng, Y., Zhai, H. Emergent U(1) lattice gauge theory in Rydberg atom arrays. Nat Rev Phys 6, 566–576 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42254-024-00749-6

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