Interplay of localization and topology in disordered dimerized arrays of Rydberg atoms
Phys. Rev. B 113, 064205 – Published 25 February, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/lx2h-w9fl
Abstract
Rydberg tweezer arrays provide a platform for realizing spin-1/2 Hamiltonians with long-range tunneling that decays as a power law with distance. We numerically investigate the effects of positional disorder and dimerization on the properties of excited states in such a one-dimensional system. Our model allows for continuous tuning of both the dimerization pattern and the disorder strength. Within the parameter space constrained by our geometry, we show that both mechanisms lead to a localized phase that does not resemble standard many-body localization. This phase can be understood as an ensemble of distinct Hilbert-space–fragmented realizations induced by small interspin separations. As dimerization is commonly associated with symmetry-protected topological (SPT) physics, we also examine the SPT states across the entire energy spectrum. Despite the presence of a partial spin-glass order, we argue that the system hosts an extensive fraction of SPT states.
