The Dicke model describes the collective behavior of a subwavelength-size ensemble of two-level atoms (i.e., spin-1/2) interacting identically with a single quantized radiation field of a cavity. Across a critical coupling strength it exhibits a zero-temperature phase transition from the normal state to the superradiant phase where the field is populated and the collective spin acquires a nonzero x component, which can be imagined as ferromagnetic ordering of the atomic spins along x. Here we introduce a variant of this model where two subwavelength-size ensembles of spins interact with a single quantized radiation field with different strengths. Subsequently, we restrict ourselves to a special case where the coupling strengths are opposite (which is unitarily equivalent to equal-coupling strengths). Because of the conservation of the total spin in each ensemble individually, the system supports two distinct superradiant states with x-ferromagnetic and x-ferrimagnetic spin ordering, coexisting with each other in a large parameter regime. The stability and dynamics of the system in the thermodynamic limit are examined using a semiclassical approach, which predicts nonstationary behaviors due to the multistabilities. At the end, we also perform small-scale full quantum-mechanical calculations, with results consistent with the semiclassical ones.
The Dicke model describes the collective behavior of a subwavelength-size ensemble of two-level atoms (i.e., spin-1/2) interacting identically with a single quantized radiation field of a cavity. Across a critical coupling strength it exhibits a zero-temperature phase transition from the normal state to the superradiant phase where the field is populated and the collective spin acquires a nonzero x component, which can be imagined as ferromagnetic ordering of the atomic spins along x. Here we introduce a variant of this model where two subwavelength-size ensembles of spins interact with a single quantized radiation field with different strengths. Subsequently, we restrict ourselves to a special case where the coupling strengths are opposite (which is unitarily equivalent to equal-coupling strengths). Because of the conservation of the total spin in each ensemble individually, the system supports two distinct superradiant states with x-ferromagnetic and x-ferrimagnetic spin ordering, coexisting with each other in a large parameter regime. The stability and dynamics of the system in the thermodynamic limit are examined using a semiclassical approach, which predicts nonstationary behaviors due to the multistabilities. At the end, we also perform small-scale full quantum-mechanical calculations, with results consistent with the semiclassical ones.
The Dicke model is a staple of theoretical cavity quantum electrodynamics (cavity QED), describing the interaction between an ensemble of atoms and a single radiation mode of an optical cavity. It is studied both quantum mechanically and semiclassically for two-level atoms, and demonstrates a rich variety of dynamics such as phase transitions, phase multistability, and chaos. In this work we explore an open, spin-1 Dicke model with independent co and counterrotating coupling terms as well as a quadratic Zeeman shift enabling control over the atomic energy-level structure. We investigate the stability of operator and moment equations under two approximations and show the system undergoes phase transitions. To compliment these results, we relax the aforementioned approximations and investigate the system semiclassically. We show evidence of phase transitions to steady-state and oscillatory superradiance in this semiclassical model, as well as the emergence of chaotic dynamics. The varied and complex behaviors admitted by the model highlights the need to more rigorously map its dynamics.
The Dicke model describes an ensemble of N identical two-level atoms (qubits) coupled to a single quantized mode of a bosonic field. The fermion Dicke model should be obtained by changing the atomic pseudo-spin operators by a linear combination of Fermi operators. The generalized fermion Dicke model is defined introducing different coupling constants between the single mode of the bosonic field and the reservoir, g1 and g2 for rotating and counter-rotating terms respectively. In the limit N → ∞, the thermodynamic of the fermion Dicke model can be analyzed using the path integral approach with functional method. The system exhibits a second order phase transition from normal to superradiance at some critical temperature with the presence of a condensate. We evaluate the critical transition temperature and present the spectrum of the collective bosonic excitations for the general case (g1 ̸ = 0 and g2 ̸ = 0). There is quantum critical behavior when the coupling constants g1 and g2 satisfy g1 + g2 = (ω0 Ω) 1 2, where ω0 is the frequency of the mode of the field and Ω is the energy gap between energy eigenstates of the qubits. Two particular situations are analyzed. First, we present the spectrum of the collective bosonic excitations, in the case g1 ̸ = 0 and g2 = 0, recovering the well known results. Second, the case g1 = 0 and g2 ̸ = 0 is studied. In this last case, it is possible to have a superradiant phase when only virtual processes are introduced in the interaction Hamiltonian. Here also appears a quantum phase transition at the critical coupling g2 = (ω0 Ω) 1 2, and for larger values for the critical coupling, the system enter in this superradiant phase with a Goldstone mode.
Abstract The Dicke model describes the coupling between a quantized cavity field and a large ensemble of two‐level atoms. When the number of atoms tends to infinity, this model can undergo a transition to a superradiant phase, belonging to the mean‐field Ising universality class. The superradiant transition was first predicted for atoms in thermal equilibrium and was recently realized with a quantum simulator made of atoms in an optical cavity, subject to both dissipation and driving. This progress report offers an introduction to some theoretical concepts relevant to the Dicke model, reviewing the critical properties of the superradiant phase transition and the distinction between equilibrium and nonequilibrium conditions. In addition, it explains the fundamental difference between the superradiant phase transition and the more common lasing transition. This report mostly focuses on the steady states of atoms in single‐mode optical cavities, but it also mentions some aspects of real‐time dynamics, as well as other quantum simulators, including superconducting qubits, trapped ions, and using spin–orbit coupling for cold atoms. These realizations differ in regard to whether they describe equilibrium or nonequilibrium systems.
The Dicke model describes an ensemble of N identical two-level atoms (qubits) coupled to a single mode of a bosonic field. The fermion Dicke model should be obtained by changing the atomic pseudo-spin operators by a linear combination of Fermi operators. The generalized fermion Dicke model is defined introducing different coupling constants between the single mode of the bosonic field and the reservoir. In the thermodynamic limit, the fermion Dicke model can be analized using the path integral approach with functional method. The system exhibits a second order phase transition from normal to superrandiance at some critical temperature with the presence of a condensate. We evaluate the critical transition temperature and present the spectrum of the collective bosonic excitations. There is quantum phantum critical behavior when the coupling constants satisfy an especific condition. Two particular situations are analyzed. First, we present the spectrum of the collective bosonic excitations in the case using the rotating-wave approximation, recovering the well know results. Second, the case only considering virtual processes. In the last case, it is possible to have a superradiance phase when only virtual processes are introduced in the interaction Hamiltonian. Here also appears a quantum phase transition at some critical coupling, and for larger values for the critical coupling, the system enter in this superradiant phase with a Goldstone mode.
We study the steady-state behavior of the open Dicke model, which describes the collective interaction of N spin-1/2 particles with a lossy, quantized cavity mode and exhibits a superradiant phase transition above a critical light-matter coupling. While the standard model conserves total spin, Kirton and Keeling [Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 123602 (2017)] demonstrated that even infinitesimal homogeneous local dephasing destroys this phase transition and that local atomic decay can restore it. We analyze this interplay using degenerate perturbation theory across subspaces of fixed total spin, S. For coupling strengths above the threshold, there exists a critical spin value Sc such that the superradiant phase transition occurs only for S>Sc. The perturbative approach captures how weak dephasing and decay induce mixing between different S subspaces, yielding a steady-state spin distribution whose width scales as 1/N. This framework requires only the first and second moments and can be implemented via different methods that can yield these two moments (for example, the second-cumulant approach), circumventing the need for full density matrix calculations. These results bridge the quantum Rabi model and Dicke physics, elucidate the roles of dephasing and decay in collective quantum effects, and apply broadly to open quantum systems with degenerate steady states.
We study the steady-state behavior of the open Dicke model, which describes the collective interaction of N spin-1/2 particles with a lossy, quantized cavity mode and exhibits a superradiant phase transition above a critical light-matter coupling. While the standard model conserves total spin, Kirton and Keeling \cite{PhysRevLett.118.123602} demonstrated that even infinitesimal homogeneous local dephasing destroys this phase transition, and that local atomic decay can restore it. We analyze this interplay using degenerate perturbation theory across subspaces of fixed total spin, S. For coupling strengths above the threshold, there exists a critical spin value Sc such that the superradiant phase transition occurs only for S>Sc. The perturbative approach captures how weak dephasing and decay induce mixing between different S-subspaces, yielding a steady-state spin distribution whose width scales as 1/N. This framework requires only the first and second moments and can be implemented via different methods that can yield these two moments (for example, the 2nd-cumulant approach), circumventing the need for full density matrix calculations. These results bridge the quantum Rabi model and Dicke physics, elucidate the roles of dephasing and decay in collective quantum effects, and apply broadly to open quantum systems with degenerate steady states.