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Interplay between disorder and topology in Thouless pumping on a superconducting quantum processor

Author

Listed:
  • Yu Liu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yu-Ran Zhang

    (South China University of Technology)

  • Yun-Hao Shi

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Tao Liu

    (South China University of Technology)

  • Congwei Lu

    (Beijing Normal University)

  • Yong-Yi Wang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Hao Li

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Tian-Ming Li

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Cheng-Lin Deng

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Si-Yun Zhou

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Tong Liu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jia-Chi Zhang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Gui-Han Liang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zheng-Yang Mei

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Wei-Guo Ma

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Hao-Tian Liu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zheng-He Liu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Chi-Tong Chen

    (Quantum Science Center for Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area)

  • Kaixuan Huang

    (Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences)

  • Xiaohui Song

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • S. P. Zhao

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory)

  • Ye Tian

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zhongcheng Xiang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Hefei National Laboratory)

  • Dongning Zheng

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory
    Hefei National Laboratory)

  • Franco Nori

    (Cluster for Pioneering Research, RIKEN
    RIKEN
    University of Michigan)

  • Kai Xu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences
    Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory)

  • Heng Fan

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences
    Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory)

Abstract

Topological phases are robust against weak perturbations, but break down when disorder becomes sufficiently strong. However, moderate disorder can also induce topologically nontrivial phases. Thouless pumping, as a (1+1)D counterpart of the integer quantum Hall effect, is one of the simplest manifestations of topology. Here, we report experimental observations of the competition and interplay between Thouless pumping and disorder on a 41-qubit superconducting quantum processor. We improve a Floquet engineering technique to realize cycles of adiabatic pumping by simultaneously varying the on-site potentials and the hopping couplings. We demonstrate Thouless pumping in the presence of disorder and show its breakdown as the strength of disorder increases. Moreover, we observe two types of topological pumping that are induced by on-site potential disorder and hopping disorder, respectively. In particular, an intrinsic topological pump that is induced by quasi-periodic hopping disorder has never been experimentally realized before. Our highly controllable system provides a valuable quantum simulating platform for studying various aspects of topological physics in the presence of disorder.

Suggested Citation

  • Yu Liu & Yu-Ran Zhang & Yun-Hao Shi & Tao Liu & Congwei Lu & Yong-Yi Wang & Hao Li & Tian-Ming Li & Cheng-Lin Deng & Si-Yun Zhou & Tong Liu & Jia-Chi Zhang & Gui-Han Liang & Zheng-Yang Mei & Wei-Guo M, 2025. "Interplay between disorder and topology in Thouless pumping on a superconducting quantum processor," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-55343-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-55343-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    5. Nader Mostaan & Fabian Grusdt & Nathan Goldman, 2022. "Publisher Correction: Quantized topological pumping of solitons in nonlinear photonics and ultracold atomic mixtures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-1, December.
    6. Marius Jürgensen & Sebabrata Mukherjee & Mikael C. Rechtsman, 2021. "Quantized nonlinear Thouless pumping," Nature, Nature, vol. 596(7870), pages 63-67, August.
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