Large-scale analogue quantum simulation using atom dot arrays.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 41639455.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41586-025-10053-7 and PMC identifier 12916296.
- 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
In pursuit of a practical quantum advantage<sup>1</sup>, analogue quantum systems provide an invaluable way to simulate the physics of quantum materials<sup>2-4</sup>, quantum systems out of equilibrium<sup>5,6</sup> or interaction-induced localization<sup>7</sup>. Notable recent progress to realize such systems has been achieved in ultracold atoms<sup>8-12</sup>, superconducting circuits<sup>13-15</sup> and twisted van der Waals materials<sup>16-19</sup>. However, so far, these platforms have struggled to simulate large-scale strongly interacting fermionic systems at low temperatures, at which electronic correlations dominate materials properties and numerical simulations remain restricted in accuracy and scope<sup>20,21</sup>. Here we demonstrate the realization of a new platform consisting of large-scale 2D arrays of sub-nanometre precision-engineered atom-based quantum dots (15,000 sites) to simulate strongly interacting, low-temperature physics. By observing a metal-insulator (MI) transition on a 2D square lattice of atom-based quantum dots, we demonstrate independent and precise control of the on-site interaction U and tunnelling t. Magneto-transport measurements further indicate the formation of an insulating state driven by Mott-Hubbard/Anderson physics and promising signatures of correlated electron physics. These precision-engineered analogue quantum simulators provide a unique platform to simulate quantum materials on arbitrary 2D lattices and to explore many unanswered questions in the formation of quantum magnetism, interacting topological quantum matter and unconventional superconductivity.