Digital simulation of zero-temperature spontaneous symmetry breaking in a superconducting lattice processor

Chang-Kang Hu, Guixu Xie, Kasper Poulsen, Yuxuan Zhou, Ji Chu, Chilong Liu, Ruiyang Zhou, Haolan Yuan, Yuecheng Shen, Song Liu (), Nikolaj T. Zinner, Dian Tan (), Alan C. Santos () and Dapeng Yu ()
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Chang-Kang Hu: International Quantum Academy
Guixu Xie: International Quantum Academy
Kasper Poulsen: Aarhus University
Yuxuan Zhou: International Quantum Academy
Ji Chu: International Quantum Academy
Chilong Liu: International Quantum Academy
Ruiyang Zhou: International Quantum Academy
Haolan Yuan: International Quantum Academy
Yuecheng Shen: East China Normal University
Song Liu: International Quantum Academy
Nikolaj T. Zinner: Aarhus University
Dian Tan: International Quantum Academy
Alan C. Santos: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
Dapeng Yu: International Quantum Academy

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Quantum simulators are ideal platforms to investigate quantum phenomena that are inaccessible through conventional means, such as the limited resources of classical computers to address large quantum systems or due to constraints imposed by fundamental laws of nature. Here, through a digitized adiabatic evolution, we report an experimental simulation of antiferromagnetic (AFM) and ferromagnetic (FM) phase formation induced by spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) in a three-generation Cayley tree-like superconducting lattice. We develop a digital quantum annealing algorithm to mimic the system dynamics, and observe the emergence of signatures of SSB-induced phase transition through a connected correlation function. We demonstrate that the signature of a transition from classical AFM to quantum FM-like phase state happens in systems undergoing zero-temperature adiabatic evolution with only nearest-neighbor interacting systems, the shortest range of interaction possible. By harnessing properties of the bipartite Rényi entropy as an entanglement witness, we observe the formation of entangled quantum FM and AFM phases. Our results open perspectives for new advances in condensed matter physics and digitized quantum annealing.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57812-8

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