Probing topological spin liquids on a programmable quantum simulator

🤖 Plain-English Summary

Quantum spin liquids, exotic phases of matter with topological order, have been a major focus in physics for the past several decades. The onset of a quantum spin liquid phase of the paradigmatic toric code type was detected by using topological string operators that provide direct signatures of topological order and quantum correlations.

🔑 Key Findings

• Such phases feature long-range quantum entanglement that can potentially be exploited to realize robust quantum computation.
• We used a 219-atom programmable quantum simulator to probe quantum spin liquid states.
• In our approach, arrays of atoms were placed on the links of a kagome lattice, and evolution under Rydberg blockade created frustrated quantum states with no local order.

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