Ergodicity breaking meets criticality in a gauge-theory quantum simulator

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2512.23794v1
• Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2025 19:00:01 GMT
• Title: Ergodicity breaking meets criticality in a gauge-theory quantum simulator
• Authors: Ana Hudomal, Aiden Daniel, Tiago Santiago do Espirito Santo, Milan Kornjača, Tommaso Macrì, Jad C. Halimeh, Guo-Xian Su, Antun Balaž, Zlatko Papić,
• Abstract summary: Recent advances in quantum simulations have opened access to the real-time dynamics of lattice gauge theories.<n>We map out the dynamical phase diagram of the spin-1/2 U(1) quantum link model in one spatial dimension by quenching the fermion mass.<n>We reveal a tunable regime of ergodicity breaking due to quantum many-body scars, manifested as long-lived coherent oscillations.
• Score: 0.002325116412563367
• License: http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/
• Abstract: Recent advances in quantum simulations have opened access to the real-time dynamics of lattice gauge theories, providing a new setting to explore how quantum criticality influences thermalization and ergodicity far from equilibrium. Using QuEra's programmable Rydberg atom array, we map out the dynamical phase diagram of the spin-1/2 U(1) quantum link model in one spatial dimension by quenching the fermion mass. We reveal a tunable regime of ergodicity breaking due to quantum many-body scars, manifested as long-lived coherent oscillations that persist across a much broader range of parameters than previously observed, including at the equilibrium phase transition point. We further analyze the electron-positron pairs generated during state preparation via the Kibble-Zurek mechanism, which strongly affect the post-quench dynamics. Our results provide new insights into nonthermal dynamics in lattice gauge theories and establish Rydberg atom arrays as a powerful platform for probing the interplay between ergodicity breaking and quantum criticality.

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