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  • Open Access

Nonequilibrium Phases and Quantum Correlations in Synthetic Transport Models

Uddhav Sen1, Federico Carollo2,1, and Sascha Wald1,*

  • *Contact author: sascha.wald@coventry.ac.uk
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Phys. Rev. Lett. 137, 090402 – Published 26 August, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/2cvx-6hqz

Abstract

Quantum devices featuring midcircuit measurement and reset capabilities, such as quantum computers and dual-species Rydberg quantum simulators, enable the realization of quantum cellular automata. These systems evolve in discrete time following local updates implemented by unitary gates and allow for the realization of both closed and synthetic dissipative dynamics. Here, we focus on quantum cellular automata that implement minimal models of classical and quantum transport. To illustrate our ideas, we focus on a discrete-time totally asymmetric simple exclusion process and investigate how coherent dynamical contributions allow for the emergence of quantum effects and correlations. We find that bipartite entanglement dominates the transient evolution, while stationary states can retain quantum correlations beyond entanglement. Our results suggest viable routes for realizing transport models on quantum devices and characterizing collective quantum correlations in strongly driven systems.

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Phys. Rev. Lett. 137, 090402– Published 26 August, 2026
  • Received 2 April 2026
  • Accepted 14 July 2026
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