Probing non-equilibrium topological order on a quantum processor
Abstract
Out-of-equilibrium phases in many-body systems constitute a new paradigm in quantum matter - they exhibit dynamical properties that may otherwise be forbidden by equilibrium thermodynamics. Among these non-equilibrium phases are periodically driven (Floquet) systems [1-5], which are generically difficult to simulate classically because of their high entanglement. Here we realize a Floquet topologically ordered state theoretically proposed in ref. [6], on an array of superconducting qubits. We image the characteristic dynamics of its chiral edge modes and characterize its emergent anyonic excitations. Devising an interferometric algorithm allows us to introduce and measure a bulk topological invariant to probe the dynamical transmutation of anyons for system sizes up to 58 qubits. Our work demonstrates that quantum processors can provide key insights into the thus-far largely unexplored landscape of highly entangled non-equilibrium phases of matter.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2501.18461,
title = {Probing non-equilibrium topological order on a quantum processor},
author = {M. Will and T. A. Cochran and E. Rosenberg and B. Jobst and N. M Eassa and P. Roushan and M. Knap and A. Gammon-Smith and F. Pollmann},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2501.18461},
year = {2025}
}
Comments
21 pages, 14 figures