Rydberg spin glasses (A05)

• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: since 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 273811115

Using the high degree of tunability of our Rydberg spin system, the central goal of this project is to explore to which extent a disordered isolated spin system with dipolar interactions exhibits features of a spin glass. The Heisenberg or Ising spin system is represented by two highly-excited electronic (Rydberg) states coupled via van der Waals or resonant dipolar interactions. An additional microwave field acts as an effective transverse and longitudinal external field. We will focus on (1) ergodicity breaking and the possible emergence of a dynamical phase transition by studying the dynamical response of the spin glass, (2) broken time-translation invariance and pair localization by measuring temporal and spatial correlation functions, and (3) modes of transport, in particular localization, by studying the dynamics of spin spiral states.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1225: Isolated quantum systems and universality in extreme conditions (ISOQUANT)
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Martin Gärttner, until 6/2024; Professor Dr. Selim Jochim, since 7/2024; Professor Dr. Matthias Weidemüller; Professor Dr. Shannon Whitlock, until 6/2020