Quantum simulator directly maps conformal field theory spectra at critical phase transitions
Researchers used a programmable Rydberg atom array to measure the finite-size excitation spectra of emergent Ising and tricritical Ising conformal field theories at quantum critical points.
In a programmable neutral-atom quantum simulator, scientists implemented a modulation-ramp-probe sequence that coherently couples ground and excited many-body states, allowing direct observation of low-energy spectra governed by two-dimensional Ising and tricritical Ising conformal field theories. Finite-size scaling across chains of up to 35 atoms reproduced the predicted universal energy ratios, while local detuning control enabled parity-resolved spectroscopy and the induction of boundary-condition transitions.
A complementary modulation-probe method measured the dynamical structure factor at criticality, confirming the constant low-frequency response expected from CFT scaling functions. The work demonstrates that quantum-simulator spectroscopy can diagnose unknown universality classes and probe strongly interacting CFTs beyond the reach of classical simulations.
Why it matters
It provides the first experimental access to detailed conformal field theory spectra, a cornerstone of many quantum theories.
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