Observation of emergent <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:msub><mml:mi mathvariant="double-struck">Z</mml:mi><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub></mml:math> gauge invariance in a superconducting circuit

Lattice gauge theories (LGTs) are one of the most fundamental subjects in many-body physics, and has recently attracted considerable research interests quantum simulations. Here we experimentally investigate emergent Z2 invariance a 1D superconducting circuit with 10 transmon qubits. By precisely adjusting staggered longitudinal transverse fields to each qubit, construct an effective Hamiltonian containing LGT gauge-broken terms. The corresponding matter sector can exhibit localization, there also exists 3-qubit operator, which expectation value retain nonzero for long time low-energy regimes. above localization be regarded as confinement fields, 3-body operator is generator. These experimental results demonstrate that, despite absence structure Hamiltonian, still emerge Our work provides method both theoretically studying rich physics systems invariance.Received 17 November 2021Revised 16 May 2022Accepted 7 June 2022DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.L022060Published by American Physical Society under terms Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution this must maintain attribution author(s) published article's title, journal citation, DOI.Published SocietyPhysics Subject Headings (PhySH)Research AreasQuantum information solid state qubitsQuantum simulationPhysical SystemsSuperconducting qubitsTechniquesLattice theoryQuantum InformationCondensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics