2026/07/29 by Elijah Pelofske, Frank Barrows, Cristiano Nisoli
Physics and Astronomy · #quant-ph #cond-mat.dis-nn #cond-mat.stat-mech #physics.atom-ph
arxiv created 2026/07/29 · arxiv updated 2026/07/31
We perform experiments on QuEra's neutral-Rydberg-atom Aquila quantum computer, using quasi-adiabatic evolution on 1-dimensional models. We use hardware fine-tuning to balance the measurement statistics close to zero net magnetization, in two different geometric outlines: one closed triangular model with 33 atoms, and one 47-atom square with an engineered atom vacancy. The nature of this processor restricts the geometry of the atoms that can be programmed to a 2D plane. We report effects not predicted by the pure 1D Ising model, such as pinning of domain walls and ℤ2 symmetry breaking due to the interplay between van der Waals interactions and the Rydberg blockade. In particular, atoms around the atom vacancy and at the vertices of the 1-dimensional square-outline model strongly prefer the Rydberg state, leading to the effective model having a ferromagnetic bond across the vacancy.