Exploring Quantum Phase Transitions Beyond Landau Theory on a Quantum Processor
How to prepare an accurate paper press kit? Illustrated guide
Ruizhe Shen, Yin Zhong, Ching Hua Lee · arXiv: 2610.22482v1 · Summary page
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A quantum processor probes a transition beyond the usual rules
The standard theory of phase transitions organizes matter by the symmetries its phases break. A direct, continuous transition between phases that break different symmetries can fall outside that conventional picture. Researchers have now used superconducting quantum processors to investigate such a transition in a one-dimensional spin chain, between ferromagnetic order and a valence-bond solid, in which neighboring spins form a patterned arrangement of pairs.
Combining classically assisted state preparation with hardware measurements, the team tracked the weakening of long-range magnetic correlations and changes in the fluctuations of the competing orders. Correlations at different separations and comparisons across system sizes showed signatures consistent with critical behavior, rather than establishing it conclusively. The preprint also follows the evolution of initially paired states, demonstrating a way to study both competing phases and their dynamics on quantum hardware.
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