Probing non-equilibrium topological order on a quantum processor.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 40931155.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41586-025-09456-3 and PMC identifier 12422974.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Out-of-equilibrium phases in many-body systems constitute a new paradigm in quantum matter-they exhibit dynamical properties that may otherwise be forbidden by equilibrium thermodynamics. Among these non-equilibrium phases are periodically driven (Floquet) systems<sup>1-5</sup>, which are generically difficult to simulate classically because of their high entanglement. Here we realize a Floquet topologically ordered state theoretically proposed in ref. <sup>6</sup>, on an array of superconducting qubits. We image the characteristic dynamics of its chiral edge modes and characterize its emergent anyonic excitations. Devising an interferometric algorithm allows us to introduce and measure a bulk topological invariant to probe the dynamical transmutation of anyons for system sizes up to 58 qubits. Our work demonstrates that quantum processors can provide key insights into the thus-far largely unexplored landscape of highly entangled non-equilibrium phases of matter.