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Observation of a many-body dynamical phase transition with a 53-qubit quantum simulator
J Zhang1, G Pagano1, P W Hess1
1Joint Quantum Institute and Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science, University of Maryland Department of Physics and National Institute of Standards and Technology, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA.
Nature
|December 1, 2017
Summary
Researchers used a 53-qubit quantum simulator to observe a dynamical phase transition in the transverse-field Ising model. This study reveals complex quantum many-body behaviors beyond conventional statistical mechanics.
Area of Science:
- Quantum Simulation
- Quantum Many-Body Physics
- Quantum Information Science
Background:
- Quantum simulators leverage controlled quantum bits (qubits) to model complex quantum many-body problems.
- Advancements in qubit control enable tackling problems in materials design and molecular modeling.
- Universal quantum computers promise solutions to a broad class of computationally hard problems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate non-equilibrium dynamics in the transverse-field Ising model with long-range interactions using a quantum simulator.
- To explore phenomena in a regime where conventional statistical mechanics is inapplicable.
- To probe computationally intractable features arising from long-range interactions and high qubit connectivity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a quantum simulator with up to 53 qubits, representing trapped ion spins.
- Implemented a global, long-range Ising interaction with tunable strength and range.
- Measured individual qubits with high efficiency (nearly 99%) for single-shot correlation analysis.
Main Results:
- Observed a dynamical phase transition following a sudden change in the Hamiltonian.
- Demonstrated the capability to probe arbitrary many-body correlations directly.
- Revealed complex dynamics and features intractable for classical computation due to long-range interactions.
Conclusions:
- Quantum simulators are powerful tools for studying non-equilibrium quantum dynamics.
- The study successfully demonstrated a dynamical phase transition in a system with long-range interactions.
- High-fidelity measurements enable direct observation of complex quantum phenomena.
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