Exploring adiabatic quantum dynamics of the Dicke model in a trapped ion quantum simulator

Understand

We use a self-assembled two-dimensional Coulomb crystal of $\sim 70$ ions in the presence of an external transverse field to engineer a quantum simulator of the Dicke Hamiltonian.

• This Hamiltonian has spin and bosonic degrees of freedom which are encoded by two hyperfine states in each ion and the center of mass motional mode of the crystal, respectively.
• The Dicke model features a quantum critical point separating two distinct phases: the superradiant (ferromagnetic) and normal (paramagnetic) phases.
• We experimentally explore protocols that aim to adiabatically prepare the superradiant ground state, a spin-boson cat state with macroscopic phonon occupation, which is well-suited for enhanced metrology and quantum information processing.