Quantum states of interacting bosons coupled to spin-1 qudits

Quantum engineered systems offer remarkable opportunities to identify quantum phases, including topological states of matter. A prominent example is the Peierls instability, already known to occur in quantum materials long-known to occur via coupling to phonons. Recent investigations have shown that a similar mechanism can be identified in quantum simulators by coupling strongly-interacting bosons to qubits via a Z2 theory. Current developments in quantum simulation and computing have recently started focusing on architectures beyond the qubits paradigm. In this spirit, here the study will focus on the scenario in which bosons are coupled to spin-1 qudits, providing distinct couplings and possibilities as compared to the spin-1/2 qubit case. The analysis will involve the identification of novel coupling terms available via spin-1 qudits and of the corresponding quantum phases originating in such many-body system.