Especially in one dimension, models with discrete and continuous symmetries display different physical properties, starting from the existence of long-range order. Introducing topological frustration in spin chains characterized by a discrete local symmetry, they develop a region in parameter space which mimics the features of models with continuous symmetries. After discussing the emergence and the characterization of this novel region, I will show how these effects of frustration can be exploited for the development of efficient quantum technologies such as quantum batteries.

* Alberto Catalano, Institut Ruđer Bošković, Zagreb