Emergent Gauge Theory in Rydberg Atom Arrays

Abstract

Rydberg atom arrays have emerged as a novel platform exhibiting rich quantum many-body physics and offering promise for universal quantum computation. The Rydberg blockade effect plays an essential role in establishing many-body correlations in this system. In this review, we will highlight that the lattice gauge theory is an efficient description of the Rydberg blockade effect and overview recent exciting developments in this system from equilibrium phases to quantum dynamics. These developments include realizing exotic ground states such as spin liquids, discovering quantum many-body scar states violating quantum thermalization, and observing confinement-deconfinement transition through quantum dynamics. We emphasize that the gauge theory description offers a universal theoretical framework to capture all these phenomena. This perspective of Rydberg atom arrays will inspire further the future development of quantum simulation and quantum computation in this platform.