Quantum simulation aims to recreate complex many-body phenomena in controlled environments, offering insights into dynamics that are otherwise difficult to model. Existing platforms, however, are often complex and costly to scale, typically requiring ultra-pure vacuum or low temperatures. Here, we realize a room-temperature quantum simulator using a thin 13C nuclear spin layer in diamond. Nearby nitrogen-vacancy centers enable polarization, readout, and, combined with radio-frequency fields, coherent control of the nuclear spins. We demonstrate strong, tunable interactions among the nuclear spins and use the system to investigate discrete time-crystalline order. By combining ease of use with operation at ambient temperatures, our work opens new opportunities for investigating strongly correlated many-body effects.
@article{arxiv.2510.27374,
title = {Room-Temperature Quantum Simulation with Atomically Thin Nuclear Spin Layers in Diamond},
author = {Philipp J. Vetter and Christoph Findler and Antonio Verdú and Matthias Kost and Rémi Blinder and Jens Fuhrmann and Christian Osterkamp and Johannes Lang and Martin B. Plenio and Javier Prior and Fedor Jelezko},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2510.27374},
year = {2025}
}