Quantum coarsening and criticality in a programmable quantum simulator

ORAL  · Invited

Abstract

Programmable Rydberg atom arrays enable precise, coherent control of hundreds of atoms in two dimensions, making them powerful platforms for exploring quantum many-body physics. In particular, they offer a unique and highly controlled setting for studying quantum phase transitions and quantum criticality—phenomena that are both fundamentally intriguing and experimentally challenging. In this talk, I will present recent experiments investigating the dynamics of a quantum magnet following a quantum phase transition. We observe coarsening dynamics in a strongly correlated quantum system and, using individual atom control, uncover universal aspects of coarsening and the interplay between quantum criticality and non-equilibrium phenomena. Notably, we find an accelerated coarsening process near the critical point and observe long-lived oscillations of the order parameter, analogous to an amplitude ("Higgs") mode. These results open new avenues for studying quantum criticality and out-of-equilibrium physics in highly controlled atomic systems.

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Publication: Manovitz, Tom, et al. "Quantum coarsening and collective dynamics on a programmable simulator." Nature 638.8049 (2025): 86-92.

Presenters

  • Tom Manovitz

    • Harvard Univesity

Authors

  • Tom Manovitz

    • Harvard Univesity

  • Sophie H Li

    • Harvard University

  • Sepehr Ebadi

    • Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • Rhine Samajdar

    • Princeton University

  • Alexandra A Geim

    • Harvard University

  • Simon J Evered

    • Harvard University

  • Dolev Bluvstein

    • Harvard University

  • Hengyun Zhou

    • Harvard University
    • QuEra Computing Inc.

  • Nazli Ugur U Koyluoglu

    • Harvard University

  • Johannes Feldmeier

    • Harvard University

  • Pavel Dolgirev

    • Harvard University

  • Nishad Maskara

    • Harvard University

  • Marcin J Kalinowski

    • Harvard University

  • Subir Sachdev

    • Harvard University

  • David A Huse

    • Princeton University

  • Markus Greiner

    • Harvard University

  • Vladan Vuletic

    • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • Mikhail D Lukin

    • Harvard University