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 $2^{\mathrm{nd}}$ -order and $1^{\mathrm{st}}$ -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 \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.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 $2^{\mathrm{nd}}$-order and $1^{\mathrm{st}}$-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 \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.

arXiv:2504.11317Apr 15, 20250 citations

Some basic aspects of quantum phase transitions

Diana V Shopova, Dimo I Uzunov

arXiv:cond-mat/0301423Physics ReportsApr 23, 200331 citations

Phase Transitions in Quantum Systems

WORLD SCIENTIFIC eBooksNov 1, 20130 citations

Role of non-Markovian dissipation in quantum phase transitions: Tricriticality, spin squeezing, and directional symmetry breaking

Baptiste Debecker, Lukas Pausch, Jonathan Louvet +3 more

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 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.

Physical Review AJun 24, 20254 citations

Phase Transitions in Quantum Systems

WORLD SCIENTIFIC eBooksAug 1, 20040 citations

Quantum phase transitions of one-dimensional period-two anisotropic XY models in a transverse field

Song Jia-Li, Ming Zhong, Tong Pei-Qing

The quantum phase transitions of one-dimensional period-two anisotropic XY models in a transverse field with the Hamiltonian where the anisotropy parameters i take and alternately, are studied. The Hamiltonian can be reduced to the diagonal form by Jordan-Wigner and Bogoliubov transformations. The long-range correlations Cx and Cy are calculated numerically. The phase with Cx Cy0 (or Cy Cx0) is referred to as the ferromagnetic (FM) phase along the x (or y) direction, while the phase with Cx=Cy=0 is the paramagnetic (PM) phase. It is found that the phase diagrams with the ratio -1 and =-1 are different obviously. For the case with -1, the line h=hc1=1-[(1-)/2]2 separates an FM phase from a PM phase, while the line =0 is the boundary between a ferromagnetic phase along the x direction (FMx) and a ferromagnetic phase along the y direction (FMy). These are similar to those of the uniform XY chains in a transverse field (i.e., =1). When =-1, the FMx and FMy phases disappear and there appears a new FM phase. The line h=hc2=1-2 separates this new FM phase from the PM phase. The new phase is gapless with two zeros in single particle energy spectrum. This is due to the new symmetry in the system with =-1, i.e., the Hamiltonian is invariant under the transformation 2ix 2i+1y,2iy 2i+1x. The correlation function between the 2i-1 and 2i lattice points along the x (y) direction is equal to that between the 2i and 2i+1 lattice points along the y (x) direction. As a result, the long-range correlation functions along two directions are equivalent. In order to facilitate the description, we call this gapless phase the isotropic ferromagnetic (FMxx) phase. Finally, the relationship between quantum entanglement and quantum phase transitions of the system is studied. The scaling behaviour of the von Neumann entropy at each point in the FMxx phase is SL~1/3log2L+ Const, which is similar to that at the anisotropic phase transition point of the uniform XY model in a transverse field, and different from those in the FMx and FMy phases.The quantum phase transitions of one-dimensional period-two anisotropic XY models in a transverse field with the Hamiltonian where the anisotropy parameters i take and alternately, are studied. The Hamiltonian can be reduced to the diagonal form by Jordan-Wigner and Bogoliubov transformations. The long-range correlations Cx and Cy are calculated numerically. The phase with Cx Cy0 (or Cy Cx0) is referred to as the ferromagnetic (FM) phase along the x (or y) direction, while the phase with Cx=Cy=0 is the paramagnetic (PM) phase. It is found that the phase diagrams with the ratio -1 and =-1 are different obviously. For the case with -1, the line h=hc1=1-[(1-)/2]2 separates an FM phase from a PM phase, while the line =0 is the boundary between a ferromagnetic phase along the x direction (FMx) and a ferromagnetic phase along the y direction (FMy). These are similar to those of the uniform XY chains in a transverse field (i.e., =1). When =-1, the FMx and FMy phases disappear and there appears a new FM phase. The line h=hc2=1-2 separates this new FM phase from the PM phase. The new phase is gapless with two zeros in single particle energy spectrum. This is due to the new symmetry in the system with =-1, i.e., the Hamiltonian is invariant under the transformation 2ix 2i+1y,2iy 2i+1x. The correlation function between the 2i-1 and 2i lattice points along the x (y) direction is equal to that between the 2i and 2i+1 lattice points along the y (x) direction. As a result, the long-range correlation functions along two directions are equivalent. In order to facilitate the description, we call this gapless phase the isotropic ferromagnetic (FMxx) phase. Finally, the relationship between quantum entanglement and quantum phase transitions of the system is studied. The scaling behaviour of the von Neumann entropy at each point in the FMxx phase is SL~1/3log2L+ Const, which is similar to that at the anisotropic phase transition point of the uniform XY model in a transverse field, and different from those in the FMx and FMy phases.

Acta Physica SinicaJan 1, 20171 citation

2^{\mathrm{nd}}

-order and

1^{\mathrm{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 \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.