Quantum Simulation on A Cloud-Accessible Analog Neutral-Atom Platform

Programmable neutral atom arrays have emerged as a powerful platform for quantum simulation, enabling controlled studies of quantum dynamics across condensed-matter and high-energy physics. In this talk, I will review a range of quantum simulation experiments performed on Aquila, QuEra’s cloud-accessible, analog neutral-atom device [1]. I will highlight two recent studies: (i) experiments observing string breaking in both equilibrium and real-time dynamics on a (2+1)D Rydberg quantum simulator [2]; and (ii) observations of emergent prethermal dynamics and dynamical phase transitions following systematic quenches in 1D and 2D neutral-atom arrays [3]. I will also discuss additional studies carried out via public cloud access to Aquila, illustrating how large-scale, programmable neutral-atom simulators can serve as shared scientific instruments for broad exploration. Finally, I will describe QuEra’s progress toward a cloud-accessible digital quantum computer based on reconfigurable neutral-atom arrays, including a demonstration of logical magic state distillation [4].

[1]: J. Wurtz, et al., Aquila: QuEra's 256-qubit neutral-atom quantum computer, arXiv:2306.11727 (2023)

[2]: D. González-Cuadra, et al., Observation of string breaking on a (2+1)D Rydberg quantum simulator, Nature 642, 321–326 (2025)

[3]: S. Darbha, A. Khudorozhkov, et al., Probing emergent prethermal dynamics and resonant melting on a programmable quantum simulator, arXiv:2510.11706 (2025)

[4]: P. Sales Rodriguez, J. M. Robinson, P. N. Jepsen, et al., Experimental demonstration of logical magic state distillation, Nature 645, 620–625 (2025)