Fermionic parton theory of Rydberg $${{\mathbb{Z}}}_{2}$$ quantum spin liquids

Abstract Programmable quantum simulators based on neutral atom arrays today offer powerful platforms for studying strongly correlated phases of quantum matter. Here, we employ the projective symmetry group framework to describe the symmetry fractionalization patterns in a topologically ordered $${{\mathbb{Z}}}_{2}$$ Z 2 quantum spin liquid (QSL) synthesized in such a Rydberg array on the ruby lattice. By systematically comparing the static structure factors of all possible mean-field Ansätze against density-matrix renormalization group calculations, we identify a promising candidate for the precise $${{\mathbb{Z}}}_{2}$$ Z 2 QSL realized microscopically. We also present detailed analyses of the dynamical structure factors as a reference for future experiments and showcase how these spin correlations can differentiate between varied QSL Ansätze .