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Updated: Jul 11, 2025

Experimental Methods for Trapping Ions Using Microfabricated Surface Ion Traps
Published on: August 17, 2017
Continuous symmetry breaking in a trapped-ion spin chain
Lei Feng1, Or Katz2, Casey Haack3
1Duke Quantum Center, Department of Physics and Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA. leifeng@fudan.edu.cn.
Researchers created long-range spin order in one-dimensional systems using a trapped-ion quantum simulator. This breakthrough enables the study of quantum phases of matter previously inaccessible in such systems.
Area of Science:
- Quantum physics
- Condensed matter physics
- Quantum simulation
Background:
- One-dimensional systems with continuous symmetry typically require long-range interactions for true long-range order.
- Short-range interactions in most physical systems limit the emergence of these quantum phases in one dimension.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally realize and study quantum phases with long-range order in a one-dimensional system.
- To investigate the role of interaction range in stabilizing quantum phases.
- To explore the out-of-equilibrium dynamics of these systems.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a one-dimensional trapped-ion quantum simulator.
- Employed simultaneous control of multiple focused laser beams for precise interaction engineering.
- Prepared states exhibiting spin order over system sizes up to 23 spins.
Main Results:
- Successfully prepared states with long-range spin order characteristic of a continuous symmetry-breaking phase.
- Observed a disordered phase with frustrated correlations.
- Studied the influence of varying interaction ranges on emergent phases.
Conclusions:
- Demonstrated the feasibility of creating long-range quantum order in one-dimensional systems via engineered interactions.
- Opened new avenues for exploring novel quantum phases and non-equilibrium dynamics in low dimensions.
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