Tuning the Topological theta-Angle in Cold-Atom Quantum Simulators of Gauge Theories

Halimeh, Jad C.1,2,3; McCulloch, Ian P.4; Yang, Bing5; Hauke, Philipp6,7,8

2022-11-09

10.1103/PRXQuantum.3.040316

PRX QUANTUM   Impact Factor & Quartile

2691-3399

The topological 0-angle in gauge theories engenders a series of fundamental phenomena, includ-ing violations of charge-parity (CP) symmetry, dynamical topological transitions, and confinement-deconfinement transitions. At the same time, it poses major challenges for theoretical studies, as it implies a sign problem in numerical simulations. Analog quantum simulators open the promising prospect of treat-ing quantum many-body systems with such topological terms, but, contrary to their digital counterparts, they have not yet demonstrated the capacity to control the 0-angle. Here, we demonstrate how a tunable topological 0-term can be added to a prototype theory with U(1) gauge symmetry, a discretized version of quantum electrodynamics in one spatial dimension. As we show, the model can be realized experimentally in a single-species Bose-Hubbard model in an optical superlattice with three different spatial periods, thus requiring only standard experimental resources. Through numerical calculations obtained from the time -dependent density-matrix renormalization group method and exact diagonalization, we benchmark the model system, and illustrate how salient effects due to the 0-term can be observed. These include charge confinement, the weakening of quantum many-body scarring, as well as the disappearance of Coleman's phase transition due to explicit breaking of CP symmetry. This work opens the door towards studying the rich physics of topological gauge-theory terms in large-scale cold-atom quantum simulators.

SCI

English

Others

European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union[DP190101515] ; Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany's Excellence Strategy[DP200103760] ; Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project[804305] ; [948141] ; [390814868] ; [EXC-2111]

Physics

Quantum Science & Technology ; Physics, Applied ; Physics, Multidisciplinary

WOS:000885458100002

AMER PHYSICAL SOC

Web of Science

1.Ludwig Maximilians Univ Munchen, Dept Phys, Theresienstr 37, D-80333 Munich, Germany
2.Ludwig Maximilians Univ Munchen, Arnold Sommerfeld Ctr Theoret Phys ASC, Theresienstr 37, D-80333 Munich, Germany
3.Munich Ctr Quantum Sci & Technol MCQST, Schellingstr 4, D-80799 Munich, Germany
4.Univ Queensland, Sch Math & Phys, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia
5.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Phys, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China
6.Univ Trento, INO CNR BEC Ctr, Via Sommar 14, I-38123 Trento, Italy
7.Univ Trento, Dept Phys, Via Sommar 14, I-38123 Trento, Italy
8.Trento Inst Fundamental Phys & Applicat, INFN TIFPA, Trento, Italy

Halimeh, Jad C.,McCulloch, Ian P.,Yang, Bing,et al. Tuning the Topological theta-Angle in Cold-Atom Quantum Simulators of Gauge Theories[J]. PRX QUANTUM,2022,3(4).

Halimeh, Jad C.,McCulloch, Ian P.,Yang, Bing,&Hauke, Philipp.(2022).Tuning the Topological theta-Angle in Cold-Atom Quantum Simulators of Gauge Theories.PRX QUANTUM,3(4).

Halimeh, Jad C.,et al."Tuning the Topological theta-Angle in Cold-Atom Quantum Simulators of Gauge Theories".PRX QUANTUM 3.4(2022).