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Observation of Stark many-body localization without disorder

Author

Listed:
  • W. Morong

    (University of Maryland and NIST)

  • F. Liu

    (University of Maryland and NIST)

  • P. Becker

    (University of Maryland and NIST)

  • K. S. Collins

    (University of Maryland and NIST)

  • L. Feng

    (University of Maryland and NIST)

  • A. Kyprianidis

    (University of Maryland and NIST)

  • G. Pagano

    (Rice University)

  • T. You

    (University of Maryland and NIST)

  • A. V. Gorshkov

    (University of Maryland and NIST)

  • C. Monroe

    (University of Maryland and NIST)

Abstract

Thermalization is a ubiquitous process of statistical physics, in which a physical system reaches an equilibrium state that is defined by a few global properties such as temperature. Even in isolated quantum many-body systems, limited to reversible dynamics, thermalization typically prevails1. However, in these systems, there is another possibility: many-body localization (MBL) can result in preservation of a non-thermal state2,3. While disorder has long been considered an essential ingredient for this phenomenon, recent theoretical work has suggested that a quantum many-body system with a spatially increasing field—but no disorder—can also exhibit MBL4, resulting in ‘Stark MBL’5. Here we realize Stark MBL in a trapped-ion quantum simulator and demonstrate its key properties: halting of thermalization and slow propagation of correlations. Tailoring the interactions between ionic spins in an effective field gradient, we directly observe their microscopic equilibration for a variety of initial states, and we apply single-site control to measure correlations between separate regions of the spin chain. Furthermore, by engineering a varying gradient, we create a disorder-free system with coexisting long-lived thermalized and non-thermal regions. The results demonstrate the unexpected generality of MBL, with implications about the fundamental requirements for thermalization and with potential uses in engineering long-lived non-equilibrium quantum matter.

Suggested Citation

  • W. Morong & F. Liu & P. Becker & K. S. Collins & L. Feng & A. Kyprianidis & G. Pagano & T. You & A. V. Gorshkov & C. Monroe, 2021. "Observation of Stark many-body localization without disorder," Nature, Nature, vol. 599(7885), pages 393-398, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:599:y:2021:i:7885:d:10.1038_s41586-021-03988-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03988-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Yun-Hao Shi & Zheng-Hang Sun & Yong-Yi Wang & Zheng-An Wang & Yu-Ran Zhang & Wei-Guo Ma & Hao-Tian Liu & Kui Zhao & Jia-Cheng Song & Gui-Han Liang & Zheng-Yang Mei & Jia-Chi Zhang & Hao Li & Chi-Tong , 2024. "Probing spin hydrodynamics on a superconducting quantum simulator," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Faridfar, M. & Fouladi, A. Ahmadi & Vahedi, J., 2023. "Dynamical quantum phase transitions in Stark quantum spin chains," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 619(C).
    3. Benedikt Kloss & Jad C. Halimeh & Achilleas Lazarides & Yevgeny Bar Lev, 2023. "Absence of localization in interacting spin chains with a discrete symmetry," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-6, December.

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