We solve Dicke superradiance with two or more competing collective decay channels of tunable rates using a symbolic quantum-trajectory construction. The method yields closed time-domain populations and observables as finite combinations of exponential terms for arbitrary numbers of emitters and arbitrary decay rates. For two channels, the behavior of the stationary ground-state distribution resembles a first-order phase transition at the point where the channel-rate ratio is equal to unity. For balanced
d-channel decay, we obtain scaling laws for the superradiant peak time and intensity. These results unify and extend single-channel Dicke dynamics to multilevel emitters and provide a compact tool for cavity and waveguide experiments, where permutation-symmetric reservoirs engineer multiple collective decay paths.
Dicke superradiance is an example of emergence of macroscopic quantum coherence via correlated dissipation. Starting from an initially incoherent state, a collection of excited atoms synchronizes as they decay, generating a macroscopic dipole moment and emitting a short and intense pulse of light. While well understood in cavities, superradiance remains an open problem in extended systems due to the exponential growth of complexity with atom number. Here we show that Dicke superradiance is a universal phenomenon in ordered arrays. We present a theoretical framework - which circumvents the exponential complexity of the problem - that allows us to predict the critical distance beyond which Dicke superradiance disappears. This critical distance is highly dependent on the dimensionality and atom number. Our predictions can be tested in state of the art experiments with arrays of neutral atoms, molecules, and solid-state emitters and pave the way towards understanding the role of many-body decay in quantum simulation, metrology, and lasing.
Dicke superradiance by an ensemble of quantum emitters produces a collective burst of radiation, but no entanglement in the mixed state of the emitters. We show that adding a local kinetic constraint between the emitters generates extensive mixed-state entanglement, while otherwise preserving all key features of Dicke superradiance. Specifically, for any local Boolean constraint, we analytically derive a lower bound for the emission rate which implies a peak intensity
∝N2 and a peak time
∝(logN)/N with number of spins
N. This effect enables the superradiantly accelerated preparation of entangled dark states. Hereby, Hilbert-space fragmentation of the Dicke ladder leads to an exponentially branching decay tree that generates a hierarchy of dark states. Importantly, these disconnected manifolds include exponentially many long-range entangled singlet dark states. The explored kinetic constraints and superradiant dynamics can be realized in neutral-atom arrays coupled to an optical cavity, and we suggest a simple and accessible witness to detect the predicted mixed-state entanglement in such experiments. Moreover, we show that entanglement generation is robust against atomic decay and collective dephasing, and should be observable under recently reported experimental conditions. Our results, thereby, offer a general framework and experimentally viable approach for the dissipative engineering of entangled dark states enhanced by superradiance.