Flat-Band (De)localization Emulated with a Superconducting Qubit Array
Arrays of coupled superconducting qubits are analog quantum simulators able to emulate a wide range of tight-binding models in parameter regimes that are difficult to access or adjust in natural materials. In this work, we use a superconducting qubit array to emulate a tight-binding model on the rhombic lattice, which features flat bands. Enabled by broad adjustability of the dispersion of the energy bands and of on-site disorder, we examine regimes where flat-band localization and Anderson localization compete. We observe disorder-induced localization for dispersive bands and disorder-induced delocalization for flat bands. Remarkably, we find a sudden transition between the two regimes and, in its vicinity, the semblance of quantum critical scaling.
Authors
- Cora N. Barrett (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2858-8982)
- Sarah E. Muschinske
- David A. Rower (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2845-5616)
- Kyle Serniak (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3469-9166)
- William D. Oliver (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8041-0824)
- Jeffrey A. Grover (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6835-8517)
- Mollie E. Schwartz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4406-8974)
- Meghan Schuldt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1365-1177)
- Bethany M. Niedzielski (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8277-8064)
- Rabindra Das (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0635-7230)
- Ilan T. Rosen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8869-7364)
- David Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0010-7823)
- Jonilyn Yoder
Institutions
- MIT Lincoln Laboratory (US)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Physical Review X
- Published
- 2025-06-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevx.15.021091
- Citations
- 5
- Primary Topic
- Quantum and electron transport phenomena
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 6.23
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- U.S. Department of Defense
- U.S. Department of Energy
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Office of the Director of National Intelligence
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
- Office of Science
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
- Advanced Research Projects Agency
- Intelligence Community Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program
- Division of Materials Research
- Army Research Office