Probing quantum floating phases in Rydberg atom arrays

Jin Zhang (), Sergio H. Cantú (), Fangli Liu (), Alexei Bylinskii, Boris Braverman, Florian Huber, Jesse Amato-Grill, Alexander Lukin, Nathan Gemelke, Alexander Keesling, Sheng-Tao Wang, Yannick Meurice and Shan-Wen Tsai
Additional contact information
Jin Zhang: University of Iowa
Sergio H. Cantú: QuEra Computing Inc
Fangli Liu: QuEra Computing Inc
Alexei Bylinskii: QuEra Computing Inc
Boris Braverman: QuEra Computing Inc
Florian Huber: QuEra Computing Inc
Jesse Amato-Grill: QuEra Computing Inc
Alexander Lukin: QuEra Computing Inc
Nathan Gemelke: QuEra Computing Inc
Alexander Keesling: QuEra Computing Inc
Sheng-Tao Wang: QuEra Computing Inc
Yannick Meurice: University of Iowa
Shan-Wen Tsai: University of California

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract The floating phase, a critical incommensurate phase, has been theoretically predicted as a potential intermediate phase between crystalline ordered and disordered phases. In this study, we investigate the different quantum phases that arise in ladder arrays comprising up to 92 neutral-atom qubits and experimentally observe the emergence of the quantum floating phase. We analyze the site-resolved Rydberg state densities and the distribution of state occurrences. The site-resolved measurement reveals the formation of domain walls within the commensurate ordered phase, which subsequently proliferate and give rise to the floating phase with incommensurate quasi-long-range order. By analyzing the Fourier spectra of the Rydberg density-density correlations, we observe clear signatures of the incommensurate wave order of the floating phase. Furthermore, as the experimental system sizes increase, we show that the wave vectors approach a continuum of values incommensurate with the lattice. Our work motivates future studies to further explore the nature of commensurate-incommensurate phase transitions and their non-equilibrium physics.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-55947-2

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