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Quantum simulation of the Kibble-Zurek mechanism using a semiconductor electron charge qubit

2014; American Physical Society; Volume: 89; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1103/physreva.89.022337

1538-4446

Li Wang, Cheng Zhou, Tao Tu, Hong-Wen Jiang, Guo‐Ping Guo, Guo‐Ping Guo,

Quantum Computing Algorithms and Architecture

The Kibble-Zurek mechanism is central to the nonequilibrium dynamics and topological structure that occur during phase transitions, which may be manifested as the cosmological strings of the early universe or vortex lines in a superfluid. In recent years, there has been broad interest in performing quantum simulations using different well-controlled physical setups, whose full controllability allows access to regimes that may be difficult to explore. Here, we demonstrate a proof-of-principle quantum simulation of the Kibble-Zurek mechanism in the quantum Ising model as it undergoes a quenched phase transition. We used an electron charge qubit in a double quantum dot as the simulator. We engineered the qubit under Landau-Zener dynamics and successfully reproduced the Kibble-Zurek-like dependence of the topological defect density on the quench time. The high level of tunability of two-level semiconductor systems and the intriguing analogy between the two phenomena (the Kibble-Zurek mechanism and Landau-Zener transition) offer a platform on which to gain new insight into the dynamics of various phase transitions.