Observation of a Many-Body Dynamical Phase Transition with a 53-Qubit Quantum Simulator

Observation of a Many-Body Dynamical Phase Transition with a 53-Qubit Quantum Simulator

August 7, 2017 | J. Zhang, G. Pagano, P. W. Hess, A. Kyprianidis, P. Becker, H. Kaplan, A. V. Gorshkov, Z.-X. Gong, and C. Monroe
A quantum simulator with up to 53 trapped ion qubits was used to study a non-equilibrium phase transition in the transverse field Ising model. The qubits, represented by trapped ion spins, were prepared in various initial states and subjected to a global long-range Ising interaction with controllable strength and range. The system was measured with near 99% efficiency, enabling the direct probing of dynamical phase transitions and computationally intractable features. The experiment involved a quantum quench, where the system Hamiltonian was suddenly changed, leading to non-equilibrium dynamics. The long-range interactions caused faster entanglement growth and unique dynamical features, making classical simulation challenging. The study revealed a dynamical phase transition (DPT) between small and large transverse field regimes, where spin alignment changes from ferromagnetic to paramagnetic. The DPT was characterized by a dip in two-body correlations, indicating a critical point at $ \tilde{B}_{z}/J_{0} = 0.89(7) $. The results demonstrated the ability to access arbitrary many-body correlators, providing insights into quantum many-body systems. The experiment also showed that the DPT is robust for small values of the power-law exponent $ \alpha $, but not for $ \alpha = \infty $. The study highlights the potential of quantum simulators for solving problems that are intractable for classical computers, such as Ising sampling. The results contribute to understanding quantum phase transitions in various fields, including social science, biology, and astrophysics. The work represents a significant advancement in quantum simulation with high-efficiency single-shot measurements.A quantum simulator with up to 53 trapped ion qubits was used to study a non-equilibrium phase transition in the transverse field Ising model. The qubits, represented by trapped ion spins, were prepared in various initial states and subjected to a global long-range Ising interaction with controllable strength and range. The system was measured with near 99% efficiency, enabling the direct probing of dynamical phase transitions and computationally intractable features. The experiment involved a quantum quench, where the system Hamiltonian was suddenly changed, leading to non-equilibrium dynamics. The long-range interactions caused faster entanglement growth and unique dynamical features, making classical simulation challenging. The study revealed a dynamical phase transition (DPT) between small and large transverse field regimes, where spin alignment changes from ferromagnetic to paramagnetic. The DPT was characterized by a dip in two-body correlations, indicating a critical point at $ \tilde{B}_{z}/J_{0} = 0.89(7) $. The results demonstrated the ability to access arbitrary many-body correlators, providing insights into quantum many-body systems. The experiment also showed that the DPT is robust for small values of the power-law exponent $ \alpha $, but not for $ \alpha = \infty $. The study highlights the potential of quantum simulators for solving problems that are intractable for classical computers, such as Ising sampling. The results contribute to understanding quantum phase transitions in various fields, including social science, biology, and astrophysics. The work represents a significant advancement in quantum simulation with high-efficiency single-shot measurements.
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