Extended Data Fig. 1: Experimental Hamiltonian evolution protocols.

a, Quasi-adiabatic state preparation used to obtain the ground state of the Rydberg Hamiltonian (1), where the local detuning (dashed tuquoise line) remains at zero throughout the sweep. b, Quasi-adiabatic state preparation with applied local detuning δ₀(t) (dashed tuquoise line), which strongly shifts the atoms off resonance, ensuring they remain in their ground states throughout the global detuning sweep. By applying the appropriate local detuning pattern (e.g. the one shown in d), one can selectively prepare either one of the string states or the broken string state. c, Quasi-adiabatic state preparation followed by a quench in local detuning δ₀ (dashed tuquoise line) that tensions the initially prepared string, such that the energies of the broken and unbroken string configurations become comparable. d, For the string breaking studies with d = 2 charge separation, the local detuning pattern applied is shown in open turquoise circles over the atom geometry. This same detuning pattern can be used to initially prepare the broken string state via the protocol described in b.