Exploring nonequilibrium phases of the generalized Dicke model with a trapped Rydberg-ion quantum simulator

摘要

Trapped ions are a versatile platform for the investigation of quantum many-body phenomena, in particular for the study of scenarios where long-range interactions are mediated by phonons. Recent experiments have shown that the trapped ion platform can be augmented by exciting high-lying Rydberg states. This introduces controllable state-dependent interactions that are independent of the phonon structure. However, the many-body physics in this newly accessible regime is largely unexplored. We show that this system grants access to generalized Dicke model physics, where dipolar interactions between ions in Rydberg states drastically alter the collective nonequilibrium behavior. We analyze and classify the emerging dynamical phases and identify a host of nonequilibrium signatures such as multiphase coexistence regions and phonon-lasing regimes. We moreover show how they can be detected and characterized through the fluorescence signal of scattered photons. Our study thus highlights interesting capabilities of trapped Rydberg-ion systems for creating and detecting quantum nonequilibrium phases.