Few- to many-body physics with synthetic dimensions in Rydberg atoms

Using optical tweezers to realize arrays of Rydberg atoms provides a highly tunable platform for quantum simulations, enabling the design of novel Hamiltonians for the study of many-body phases and dynamics. In our recent experimental efforts using our optical tweezers platform, we treat Rydberg states as sites in a synthetic lattice to study the effects of dipolar interactions on particle transport. Using these techniques, we demonstrate a self-trapping interaction effect, inhibiting or freezing synthetic lattice dynamics.