Quantum phases of Rydberg atoms on a frustrated triangular-lattice array

The neutral atoms coupled to a highly excited Rydberg state on a two-dimensional triangular lattice are investigated by employing the density matrix renormalization group technique in the matrix product state form. The full ground-state phase diagram as a function of blockade radius and the detuning of the exciting laser is determined by the behavior of entanglement entropy. We find several quantum phases including stripe-ordered and symmetry-breaking density-wave-ordered phases featured with regular excitation patterns of different excitation densities rho = 1/3, 1/4, and 1/7. In addition, a rho = 2/3 ordered phase and an interesting order-by-disorder phase, which has been prepared experimentally, are also observed in this work. Our work provides an exploration of the possible quantum phases that can occur in a triangularly arrayed Rydberg system, and thus could be a faithful theoretical guide for further experimental research. (C) 2022 Optica Publishing Group

Automated summary

This study investigates neutral atoms coupled to a highly excited Rydberg state on a two-dimensional triangular lattice using the density matrix renormalization group technique. The behavior of entanglement entropy is used to determine the full ground-state phase diagram as a function of blockade radius and the detuning of the exciting laser. Several quantum phases are identified, including stripe-ordered and symmetry-breaking density-wave-ordered phases.