Simulating a two component Bose-Hubbard model with imbalanced hopping in a Rydberg tweezer array

Abstract

Optical tweezer arrays of neutral atoms provide a versatile platform for quantum simulation due to the range of interactions and Hamiltonians that can be realized and explored. We propose to simulate a two-component Bose-Hubbard model with power-law hopping using arrays of multilevel Rydberg atoms featuring resonant dipolar interactions. The diversity of states that can be used to encode the local Hilbert space of the Bose-Hubbard model enables control of the relative hopping rate of each component and even the realization of spin-flip hopping. We use numerical simulations to show how multilevel Rydberg atoms provide an opportunity to explore the diverse non-equilibrium quench dynamics of the model. For example, we demonstrate a separation of the relaxation timescales of effective spin and charge degrees of freedom, and observe regimes of slow relaxation when the effective hopping rates of the two components are vastly different due to dynamical constraints arising from hardcore boson interactions. We discuss prospects for studying these effects in state-of-the-art Rydberg tweezer arrays.