Gauge-Theoretic Origin of Rydberg Quantum Spin Liquids.

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Quantum Information Science
• Atomic Physics

Background:

• Topological quantum spin liquids have shown signatures in experiments and numerical studies of models with blockade interactions.
• The precise mechanism stabilizing these topological spin liquid phases remains an open question in condensed matter physics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the stabilizing mechanism of topological quantum spin liquids in blockaded models.
• To establish an exact theoretical link between Ising-Higgs lattice gauge theory and blockaded models.
• To provide a framework for the experimental realization and characterization of spin liquid states.

Main Methods:

• Introduction of an exact relation between an Ising-Higgs lattice gauge theory on the kagome lattice and blockaded models on Ruby lattices.
• Utilizing exact diagonalization techniques.
• Employing unbiased quantum Monte Carlo simulations.

Main Results:

• The study links topological spin liquids directly to a deconfined phase of a solvable gauge theory.
• Deconfined phases were shown to exist across a broad parameter space in the blockaded models.
• These phases exhibit significant ground state overlap with resonating valence bond wave functions.

Conclusions:

• The established relation clarifies the origin of topological spin liquids in blockaded systems.
• Blockaded models, incorporating creation/annihilation and hopping dynamics, are experimentally realizable with Rydberg-dressed atoms.
• These systems offer controllable platforms for engineering and studying quantum spin liquid states.