2026-09-22T21:23:09Z https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/125631 2025-02-06 col_2142_5131 col_2142_8859 com_2142_5130 com_2142_8858 com_2142_234

application/pdf en text Submission original under an indefinite embargo labeled 'Open Access'. The submission was exported from vireo on 2025-02-04 without embargo terms The student, Ivan Velkovsky, accepted the attached license on 2024-07-12 at 14:20. The student, Ivan Velkovsky, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2024-07-12 at 15:22. This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2024-07-15 at 13:29. DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #21101 on 2025-02-04 at 21:05:17 Investigation of synthetic gauge fields in two analog simulation platforms Velkovsky, Ivan 2024-07-15 Gadway, Bryce Covey, Jacob Vishveshwara, Smitha Gollin, George Gauge Fields Quantum Simulation Analog Simulation Rydberg Atoms Optical Tweezers Electromechanics eng Gauge fields are a fundamental aspect of much of current physics, being foundational to particle physics as well as playing a large role in our understanding of collective topological phenomena in condensed matter systems. One method of studying gauge field models is through direct engineering and observation of their behavior in a controllable test system. Using this methodology, which in this text I call "analog simulation", we can probe specific regimes of models of interest allowing for detailed study of their properties. Here I present my work on two analog simulation platforms: one based on single neutral Rydberg atoms in optical tweezers, and the second on feedback-coupled mechanical oscillators. I describe my contributions to these experiments as well as the particulars of how we use them to implement our simulations. Then, I show the results of several different experiments on these two platforms, probing both Abelian and non-Abelian gauge field models in a variety of conditions (non-linear interactions, non-reciprocal lattices, and strong entangling dipolar exchange interactions). Finally, I remark on the power and future outlook of the experimental platforms. 2024-08 Thesis https://hdl.handle.net/2142/125631 Copyright 2024 Ivan Velkovsky Physics Physics University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Ph.D. Dissertation