@article {2529, title = {Programmable Quantum Simulations of Spin Systems with Trapped Ions}, year = {2019}, month = {12/17/2019}, abstract = {

Laser-cooled and trapped atomic ions form an ideal standard for the simulation of interacting quantum spin models. Effective spins are represented by appropriate internal energy levels within each ion, and the spins can be measured with near-perfect efficiency using state-dependent fluorescence techniques. By applying optical fields that exert optical dipole forces on the ions, their Coulomb interaction can be modulated in ways that give rise to long-range and tunable spin-spin interactions that can be reconfigured by shaping the spectrum and pattern of the laser fields. Here we review the theoretical mapping of atomic ions to interacting spin systems, the experimental preparation of complex equilibrium states, and the study of dynamical processes of this many-body interacting quantum system. The use of such quantum simulators for studying spin models may inform our understanding of exotic quantum materials and shed light on interacting quantum systems that cannot be modeled with conventional computers.\ 

}, url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/1912.07845}, author = {C. Monroe and W. C. Campbell and L. -M. Duan and Z. -X. Gong and Alexey V. Gorshkov and P. Hess and R. Islam and K. Kim and G. Pagano and P. Richerme and C. Senko and N. Y. Yao} } @article {2289, title = {Cryogenic Trapped-Ion System for Large Scale Quantum Simulation}, year = {2018}, abstract = {

We present a cryogenic ion trapping system designed for large scale quantum simulation of spin models. Our apparatus is based on a segmented-blade ion trap enclosed in a 4 K cryostat, which enables us to routinely trap over 100 171Yb+ ions in a linear configuration for hours due to a low background gas pressure from differential cryo-pumping. We characterize the cryogenic vacuum by using trapped ion crystals as a pressure gauge, measuring both inelastic and elastic collision rates with the molecular background gas. We demonstrate nearly equidistant ion spacing for chains of up to 44 ions using anharmonic axial potentials. This reliable production and lifetime enhancement of large linear ion chains will enable quantum simulation of spin models that are intractable with classical computer modelling.

}, url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/1802.03118}, author = {G. Pagano and P. W. Hess and H. B. Kaplan and W. L. Tan and P. Richerme and P. Becker and A. Kyprianidis and J. Zhang and E. Birckelbaw and M. R. Hernandez and Y. Wu and C. Monroe} } @article {2005, title = {{O}bservation of {P}rethermalization in {L}ong-{R}ange {I}nteracting {S}pin {C}hains}, year = {2016}, month = {2016/08/02}, abstract = {

Statistical mechanics can predict thermal equilibrium states for most classical systems, but for an isolated quantum system there is no general understanding on how equilibrium states dynamically emerge from the microscopic Hamiltonian. For instance, quantum systems that are near-integrable usually fail to thermalize in an experimentally realistic time scale and, instead, relax to quasi-stationary prethermal states that can be described by statistical mechanics when approximately conserved quantities are appropriately included in a generalized Gibbs ensemble (GGE). Here we experimentally study the relaxation dynamics of a chain of up to 22 spins evolving under a long-range transverse field Ising Hamiltonian following a sudden quench. For sufficiently long-ranged interactions the system relaxes to a new type of prethermal state that retains a strong memory of the initial conditions. In this case, the prethermal state cannot be described by a GGE, but rather arises from an emergent double-well potential felt by the spin excitations. This result shows that prethermalization occurs in a significantly broader context than previously thought, and reveals new challenges for a generic understanding of the thermalization of quantum systems, particularly in the presence of long-range interactions.

}, url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/1608.00681}, author = {B. Neyenhuis and J. Smith and A. C. Lee and J. Zhang and P. Richerme and P. W. Hess and Z. -X. Gong and Alexey V. Gorshkov and C. Monroe} }