We discuss the physics of the Rabi-Hubbard model describing large arrays of coupled cavities interacting with two level atoms via a Rabi non-linearity. We show that the inclusion of counter-rotating terms in the light-matter interaction, often neglected in theoretical descriptions based on Jaynes-Cumming models, is crucial to stabilize finite-density quantum phases of correlated photons with no need for an artificially engineered chemical potential. We show that the physical properties of these phases and the quantum phase transition occurring between them is remarkably different from those of interacting bosonic massive quantum particles. The competition between photon delocalization and Rabi non-linearity drives the system across a novel $Z_2$ parity symmetry-breaking quantum phase transition between two gapped phases, a Rabi insulator and a delocalized super-radiant phase.
We discuss the physics of the Rabi-Hubbard model describing large arrays of coupled cavities interacting with two level atoms via a Rabi non-linearity. We show that the inclusion of counter-rotating terms in the light-matter interaction, often neglected in theoretical descriptions based on Jaynes-Cumming models, is crucial to stabilize finite-density quantum phases of correlated photons with no need for an artificially engineered chemical potential. We show that the physical properties of these phases and the quantum phase transition occurring between them is remarkably different from those of interacting bosonic massive quantum particles. The competition between photon delocalization and Rabi non-linearity drives the system across a novel Z2 parity symmetry-breaking quantum phase transition between two gapped phases, a Rabi insulator and a delocalized super-radiant phase.
Systems of strongly interacting atoms and photons, which can be realized wiring up individual cavity QED systems into lattices, are perceived as a new platform for quantum simulation. While sharing important properties with other systems of interacting quantum particles, here we argue that the nature of light-matter interaction gives rise to unique features with no analogs in condensed matter or atomic physics setups. By discussing the physics of a lattice model of delocalized photons coupled locally with two-level systems through the elementary light-matter interaction described by the Rabi model, we argue that the inclusion of counterrotating terms, so far neglected, is crucial to stabilize finite-density quantum phases of correlated photons out of the vacuum, with no need for an artificially engineered chemical potential. We show that the competition between photon delocalization and Rabi nonlinearity drives the system across a novel Z(2) parity symmetry-breaking quantum criticality between two gapped phases that share similarities with the Dicke transition of quantum optics and the Ising critical point of quantum magnetism. We discuss the phase diagram as well as the low-energy excitation spectrum and present analytic estimates for critical quantities.
The dissipative quantum phase transitions experienced by a driven optical system are studied in order to understand the underlying light-matter coupling. The primary system under study is composed of a cavity mode coupled to a two-level system with dissipation being introduced through the interaction with a surrounding environment; an external coherent field is included to drive the system out of the ground state. The coupling is given by a generalized Rabi Hamiltonian, where rotating, gr, and counter-rotating, ngr, couplings are both present and can be adjusted independently. A comprehensive study of the different phases the system can exhibit as gr and n are varied is presented. From this, we construct a bridge between two limiting scenarios: (i) the Jaynes-Cummings limit (n = 0), where the system undergoes a phase transition by means of the breakdown of the photon blockade, and (ii) the driven Dicke limit ( = 1 ), where the normal to super-radiant phase transition is found. Novel behaviour encountered in an intermediate regime (1 > n > 0) is discussed. Attention is drawn towards the strong coupling regime, where changes at the one-photon level induce nonlinear effects and behaviour reminiscent of phase transitions is encountered with just a few photons present. A comparison between weak and strong coupling regimes, and, thus, an exploration of the effect of fluctuations over quantum phase transitions of light, is given through a survey of the phases an auxiliary optical system exhibits. This system is composed of two coupled nonlinear cavities that are driven coherently and damped through the interaction with the environment; it is seen to exhibit three phases. Two phases present high-correlation between the cavities and are differentiated by the photon statistics, transitioning from classical to quantum. The third phase is characterized by a highly localized field in one of the cavities. The departure from mean-field results is highlighted and a new way to characterize the possible phases of the system is proposed. Finally, the crucial role of quantum fluctuations is quantified and used to define the phases at hand.
We use the mean field approximation method to study the quantum phase transitions of the Jaynes-Cummings lattice model and the Rabi lattice model. The effective Hamiltonians are obtained for the JC and Rabi model including the Kerr nonlinear term. Numerically we diagonalized the Hamiltonian matrix and calculated the superfluidity order parameter and the two-photon correlation function by solving the iteration equations. We have explored the Mott insulating-superfluid quantum phase transition, the bunching-antibunching behavior of light, and the effect of Kerr nonlinear term on the quantum phase transition and photon statistical characteristics. Our results show that in the JC lattice model, by increasing J, a quantum phase transition takes place and the system is driven to a superfluid phase. The phase boundaries of the Mott lobes are N-dependent. However the photon will always be in a bunching statistical behavior irrelevant of the coupling strength between the two-level atom and the phonton and the nonlinear Kerr effect. In the Rabi lattice model, the anti-rotating wave term breaks Mott-lobe structure of the phase diagram and the increase of the two-level atom and photon interaction strength g and the photon transition strength J between the lattices drive the system from the Mott insulating phase to the superfluid phase. The photon statistical behavior changes from the bunching to the antibunching one when considering the anti-rotating wave term, which is important in the strongly coupled systems. Most interestingly, the increase of the Kerr nonlinear coefficient will inhibit the Mott insulating phase-superfluid phase transition, but favor the superfluid phase and the transition from the bunching to anti-bunching statistics.
Abstract In this paper we analyze properties of the phase transition that appears in a set of quantum optical models; Dicke, Tavis–Cummings, quantum Rabi, and finally the Jaynes–Cummings model. As the light-matter coupling is increased into the deep strong coupling regime, the ground state turns from vacuum to become a superradiant state characterized by both atomic and photonic excitations. It is pointed out that all four transitions are of the mean-field type, that quantum fluctuations are negligible, and hence these fluctuations cannot be responsible for the corresponding vacuum instability. In this respect, these are not quantum phase transitions. In the case of the Tavis–Cummings and Jaynes–Cummings models, the continuous symmetry of these models implies that quantum fluctuations are not only negligible, but strictly zero. However, all models possess a non-analyticity in the ground state in agreement with a continuous quantum phase transition. As such, it is a matter of taste whether the transitions should be termed quantum or not. In addition, we also consider the modifications of the transitions when photon losses are present. For the Dicke and Rabi models these non-equilibrium steady states remain critical, while the criticality for the open Tavis–Cummings and Jaynes–Cummings models is completely lost, i.e. in realistic settings one cannot expect a true critical behaviour for the two last models.
Phase transitions are commonly held to occur only in the thermodynamical limit of a large number of system components. Here, we exemplify at the hand of the exactly solvable Jaynes-Cummings (JC) model and its generalization to finite JC lattices that finite component systems of coupled spins and bosons may exhibit quantum phase transitions (QPTs). For the JC model we find a continuous symmetry-breaking QPT, a photonic condensate with a macroscopic occupation as the ground state, and a Goldstone mode as a low-energy excitation. For the two site JC lattice we show analytically that it undergoes a Mott-insulator to superfluid QPT. We identify as the underlying principle of the emergence of finite system QPTs the combination of increasing atomic energy and increasing interaction strength between the atom and the bosonic mode, which allows for the exploration of an increasingly large portion of the infinite dimensional Hilbert space of the bosonic mode. This suggests that finite system phase transitions will be present in a broad range of physical systems.
Abstract We study the dynamical evolution and symmetry breaking of the non-Hermitian double Jaynes–Cummings model with symmetry. The results indicate that there exist symmetry maintained and breaking phase in this model, and the non-Hermitian terms lead to different behaviors in two phases. In the symmetry phase, there exists stable Rabi oscillation caused by the interaction between photons and atoms. At the exceptional point, the system shows critical property that the probabilities in each state over time tend to be equal. The system will undergo a transition from the symmetry phase to the symmetry breaking phase, as increasing the coupling constant. In the symmetry breaking phase, complex eigenvalues appear, and the probability in each state increases monotonically in an exponential form. This study can help us to understand the effect of symmetry on the interaction between photons and atoms in non-Hermitian systems.