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arXiv:2410.18990 · Physical Review A

Spectral theory of non-Markovian dissipative phase transitions

Baptiste Debecker, John Martin, François Damanet

Published Oct 3, 2024• 10 citations
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Abstract

Dissipative phase transitions in quantum systems have been largely studied under the so-called Markovian approximation, where the environments to which the systems are coupled are memoryless. Here, we present a generalization of the spectral theory of dissipative phase transitions to non-Markovian systems, encompassing a much broader class of quantum materials and experiments and opening many possibilities for non-Markovian engineering of matter phases such as, as explored in the companion Letter [Debecker et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 133, 140403 (2024)], reshaping of phase boundaries and triggering of phase transitions. We first prove several statements about the connections between the spectrum of the generator of the non-Markovian dynamics of general systems and dissipative phase transitions. Then, as a benchmark, we show that our framework can capture all the expected signatures of the superradiant phase transition appearing in a challenging $\mathbb{U}(1)$-symmetric two-mode Dicke model from a reduced description of the dynamics of the atoms only, a task for which all other methods have failed so far.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.110.042201

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Dissipative phase transitions in quantum systems have been largely studied under the so-called Markovian approximation, where the environments to which the systems are coupled are memoryless. Here, we present a generalization of the spectral theory of dissipative phase transitions to non-Markovian systems, encompassing a much broader class of quantum materials and experiments and opening many possibilities for non-Markovian engineering of matter phases such as, as explored in the companion Letter [Debecker et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 133, 140403 (2024)], reshaping of phase boundaries and triggering of phase transitions. We first prove several statements about the connections between the spectrum of the generator of the non-Markovian dynamics of general systems and dissipative phase transitions. Then, as a benchmark, we show that our framework can capture all the expected signatures of the superradiant phase transition appearing in a challenging U(1)\mathbb{U}(1)U(1)-symmetric two-mode Dicke model from a reduced description of the dynamics of the atoms only, a task for which all other methods have failed so far.
Controlling phase transitions in quantum systems via coupling to reservoirs has been mostly studied for idealized memory-less environments under the so-called Markov approximation. Yet, most quantum materials and experiments in the solid state, atomic, molecular and optical physics are coupled to reservoirs with finite memory times. Here, using the spectral theory of non-Markovian dissipative phase transitions developed in the companion paper [Debecker et al., Phys. Rev. A 110, 042201 (2024)], we show that memory effects can be leveraged to reshape matter phase boundaries, but also reveal the existence of dissipative phase transitions genuinely triggered by non-Markovian effects.
Controlling phase transitions in quantum systems via coupling to reservoirs has been mostly studied for idealized memory-less environments under the so-called Markov approximation. Yet, most quantum materials and experiments in the solid state, atomic, molecular and optical physics are coupled to reservoirs with finite memory times. Here, using the spectral theory of non-Markovian dissipative phase transitions developed in the companion paper [Debecker, Martin, and Damanet (to be published)], we show that memory effects can be leveraged to reshape matter phase boundaries, but also reveal the existence of dissipative phase transitions genuinely triggered by non-Markovian effects.
We consider the Dicke model, describing an ensemble of NNN quantum spins interacting with a cavity field, and study how the coupling to a non-Markovian environment with power-law spectrum changes the physics of superradiant phase transition. Quite remarkably we find that dissipation can induce, rather than suppress, the ordered phase, a result which is in striking contrast with both thermal and Markovian quantum baths. We interpret this dissipation-induced superradiance as a genuine dissipative quantum phase transition that exists even at finite NNN due to the coupling with the bath modes and whose nature and critical properties strongly depend on the spectral features of the non-Markovian environment.
We introduce dissipative spectroscopy as a framework for extracting spectral information from quantum systems via controlled dissipation. By establishing a general dissipative response theory applicable to both Markovian and non-Markovian environments, we develop a protocol to access the dissipative spectrum (DS) through driven oscillation-dissipation resonance. We show that the DS can identify two-particle soft modes near quantum critical points and, on the normal-phase side, predict the emergence of macroscopic order exhibiting power-law growth following a dissipation quench. These distinctive signatures appear in quasiparticle-dominant regimes, previously considered trivial. Furthermore, we introduce extended dissipative susceptibilities that capture leading memory effects and demonstrate their utility in a dissipative fermionic model. Our results indicate that the DS is readily accessible and offers a versatile tool for probing equilibrium properties as well as predicting nonequilibrium dissipative dynamics.
Understanding how to control phase transitions in quantum systems is at the forefront of research for the development of new quantum materials and technologies.Here, we study how the coupling of a quantum system to a non-Markovian environment, i.e., an environment with a frequency-dependent spectral density inducing memory effects, can be used to generate and reshape phase transitions and squeezing in matter phases.Focusing on a Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick model, we demonstrate that non-Markovian dissipation can be leveraged to engineer tricriticality via the fusion of 2 nd -order and 1 st -order critical points.We identify phases that arise from different ways of breaking the single weak symmetry of our model, which led us to introduce the concept of directional spontaneous symmetry breaking (DSSB) as a general framework to understand this phenomenon.We show that signatures of DSSB can be seen in the emergence of spin squeezing along different directions, and that the latter is controllable via non-Markovian effects, opening up possibilities for applications in quantum metrology.Finally, we propose an experimental implementation of our non-Markovian model in cavity QED.Our work features non-Markovianity as a resource for controlling phase transitions in general systems, and highlights shortcomings of the Markovian limit in this context.
Understanding how to control phase transitions in quantum systems is at the forefront of research for the development of new quantum materials and technologies. Here, we study how the coupling of a quantum system to a non-Markovian environment, i.e., an environment with a frequency-dependent spectral density inducing memory effects, can be used to generate and reshape phase transitions and squeezing in matter phases. Focusing on a Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick model, we demonstrate that non-Markovian dissipation can be leveraged to engineer tricriticality via the fusion of 2nd2^{\mathrm{nd}}2nd-order and 1st1^{\mathrm{st}}1st-order critical points. We identify phases that arise from different ways of breaking the single weak symmetry of our model, which led us to introduce the concept of \textit{directional spontaneous symmetry breaking} (DSSB) as a general framework to understand this phenomenon. We show that signatures of DSSB can be seen in the emergence of spin squeezing along different directions, and that the latter is controllable via non-Markovian effects, opening up possibilities for applications in quantum metrology. Finally, we propose an experimental implementation of our non-Markovian model in cavity QED. Our work features non-Markovianity as a resource for controlling phase transitions in general systems, and highlights shortcomings of the Markovian limit in this context.