Preparation of Quantum Spin Liquid in optical cavity

Objective

Understanding strongly correlated phases of matter is a central goal of physics and is essential for applications ranging from condensed matter science to quantum information. A key example is the quantum spin liquid, an elusive phase predicted to emerge in frustrated spin systems. Quantum spin liquids exhibit long-range entanglement, fractionalized excitations, and topological order. These features not only make them of fundamental interest but also makes them promising for quantum technologies such as error correction codes and quantum memory. Despite decades of study, experimental evidence for quantum spin liquids remains inconclusive. Indeed, creating such a phase requires generating long-range entanglement, which is notoriously difficult. Moreover, typical bulk measurements in solid-state physics cannot reveal the topological character of quantum spin liquids. Instead, one must probe their microscopic properties. The Cavity–Quantum Spin Liquid project aims to tackle these challenges by developing new methods to prepare and study quantum spin liquids using single atoms trapped in an optical cavity. The project will be realized on a state-of-the-art apparatus combining single atoms in optical tweezers inside a high-cooperativity fiber cavity. We will first implement a protocol to generate robust long-range entanglement through cavity-assisted collective dissipation. Then, by extending techniques that allow programming arbitrary interaction graphs between individual atoms, we will work towards engineering quantum spin liquid states and characterizing them using the single-atom measurement toolbox. Beyond advancing the understanding of quantum spin liquid phases, this project will establish new methods for preparing strongly entangled matter with optical cavities, broadening the scope of quantum simulation.