Trapped ions are a versatile platform for quantum simulation of spin models due to their good coherence properties, the possibility to induce variable-range spin-spin interactions as well as the ease of site-resolved single-particle control and readout. We make use of a modified design of a linear Paul trap, which allows for trapping and cooling 2D crystal with up to 100 Ca⁺ ions, and implemented a programmable quantum simulator with flexible global and local control tools. Spin-spin interactions (Ising and XY-type) with variable interaction range are engineered by coupling the spins and the collective modes of motion via a stimulated Raman transition of a long-lived ground-state qubit. Using tightly focused laser pulses, we are able to independently control each particle state, and to create entanglement between arbitrary pairs of ions. We show that it is possible to combine multiple single particle unitary rotations and two-qubit entangling gates with a spin-spin interaction model of choice, thus qualifying our platform as a programmable quantum simulator. This paves the way to explore complex dynamics of entangled states in a lattice of spins.
