Spin-only dynamics of the multi-species nonreciprocal Dicke model

-symmetry breaking, finding a region of phase coexistence terminating at a codimension-two exceptional point. Lastly, we go beyond mean-field theory by exact numerical diagonalization of the master equation, appealing to permutation symmetry in order to increase the size of accessible systems. We find signatures of phase transitions even for small system sizes.

DOI: 10.21468/scipostphys.20.6.155

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Joseph Jachinowski, P. B. Littlewood

The Hepp-Lieb-Dicke model is ubiquitous in cavity quantum electrodynamics, describing spin-cavity coupling which does not conserve excitation number. Coupling the closed spin-cavity system to an environment realizes the open Dicke model, and by tuning the structure of the environment or the system-environment coupling, interesting spin-only models can be engineered. In this work, we focus on a variation of the multi-species open Dicke model which realizes mediated nonreciprocal interactions between the spin species and, consequently, a dynamical limit-cycle phase. In particular, we improve upon adiabatic elimination and, instead, employ a Redfield master equation in order to describe the effective dynamics of the spin-only system. We assess this approach at the mean-field level, comparing it both to adiabatic elimination and the full spin-cavity model, and find that the predictions are sensitive to the presence of single-particle incoherent decay. Additionally, we clarify the symmetries of the model and explore the dynamical limit-cycle phase in the case of explicit \mathcal{PT} 𝒫 𝒯 -symmetry breaking, finding a region of phase coexistence terminating at a codimension-two exceptional point. Lastly, we go beyond mean-field theory by exact numerical diagonalization of the master equation, appealing to permutation symmetry in order to increase the size of accessible systems. We find signatures of phase transitions even for small system sizes.The Hepp-Lieb-Dicke model is ubiquitous in cavity quantum electrodynamics, describing spin-cavity coupling which does not conserve excitation number. Coupling the closed spin-cavity system to an environment realizes the open Dicke model, and by tuning the structure of the environment or the system-environment coupling, interesting spin-only models can be engineered. In this work, we focus on a variation of the multi-species open Dicke model which realizes mediated nonreciprocal interactions between the spin species and, consequently, a dynamical limit-cycle phase. In particular, we improve upon adiabatic elimination and, instead, employ a Redfield master equation in order to describe the effective dynamics of the spin-only system. We assess this approach at the mean-field level, comparing it both to adiabatic elimination and the full spin-cavity model, and find that the predictions are sensitive to the presence of single-particle incoherent decay. Additionally, we clarify the symmetries of the model and explore the dynamical limit-cycle phase in the case of explicit \mathcal{PT} 𝒫 𝒯 -symmetry breaking, finding a region of phase coexistence terminating at a codimension-two exceptional point. Lastly, we go beyond mean-field theory by exact numerical diagonalization of the master equation, appealing to permutation symmetry in order to increase the size of accessible systems. We find signatures of phase transitions even for small system sizes.

arXiv:2507.07960SciPost PhysicsJun 2, 20260 citations

Atom-only descriptions of the driven-dissipative Dicke model

François Damanet, Andrew J. Daley, Jonathan Keeling

We investigate how to describe the dissipative spin dynamics of the driven-dissipative Dicke model, describing $N$ two-level atoms coupled to a cavity mode, after adiabatic elimination of the cavity mode. To this end, we derive a Redfield master equation which goes beyond the standard secular approximation and large detuning limits. We show that the secular (or rotating wave) approximation and the large detuning approximation both lead to inadequate master equations, that fail to predict the Dicke transition or the damping rates of the atomic dynamics. In contrast, the full Redfield theory correctly predicts the phase transition and the effective atomic damping rates. Our work provides a reliable framework to study the full quantum dynamics of atoms in a multimode cavity, where a quantum description of the full model becomes intractable.We investigate how to describe the dissipative spin dynamics of the driven-dissipative Dicke model, describing $N$ two-level atoms coupled to a cavity mode, after adiabatic elimination of the cavity mode. To this end, we derive a Redfield master equation which goes beyond the standard secular approximation and large detuning limits. We show that the secular (or rotating wave) approximation and the large detuning approximation both lead to inadequate master equations, that fail to predict the Dicke transition or the damping rates of the atomic dynamics. In contrast, the full Redfield theory correctly predicts the phase transition and the effective atomic damping rates. Our work provides a reliable framework to study the full quantum dynamics of atoms in a multimode cavity, where a quantum description of the full model becomes intractable.

arXiv:1901.02473Physical Review AMar 25, 201970 citations

Nonreciprocal Dicke Model

E. I. Rodríguez Chiacchio, Andreas Nunnenkamp, Matteo Brunelli

We investigate the physics of an open two-component Dicke model, where the light field mediates nonreciprocal interactions between two spin species. We show that the model, which we dub nonreciprocal Dicke model, exhibits a discrete parity-time (PT) symmetry and we characterize the emergence of a nonstationary phase, so far explained in terms of dissipation-induced instability, as spontaneous breaking of PT symmetry. We further show that such PT symmetry breaking embodies an instance of a nonreciprocal phase transition, a concept recently introduced by Fruchart et al. [Nature (London) 592, 363 (2021)NATUAS0028-083610.1038/s41586-021-03375-9]. Remarkably, the phase transition in our model does not necessitate the presence of any underlying broken symmetry or exceptional points in the spectrum, both believed to be essential requirements for nonreciprocal phase transitions. Our results establish driven-dissipative light-matter systems as a new avenue for exploring nonreciprocal phase transitions and contribute to the theory of nonreciprocal collective phenomena.We investigate the physics of an open two-component Dicke model, where the light field mediates nonreciprocal interactions between two spin species. We show that the model, which we dub nonreciprocal Dicke model, exhibits a discrete parity-time (PT) symmetry and we characterize the emergence of a nonstationary phase, so far explained in terms of dissipation-induced instability, as spontaneous breaking of PT symmetry. We further show that such PT symmetry breaking embodies an instance of a nonreciprocal phase transition, a concept recently introduced by Fruchart et al. [Nature (London) 592, 363 (2021)NATUAS0028-083610.1038/s41586-021-03375-9]. Remarkably, the phase transition in our model does not necessitate the presence of any underlying broken symmetry or exceptional points in the spectrum, both believed to be essential requirements for nonreciprocal phase transitions. Our results establish driven-dissipative light-matter systems as a new avenue for exploring nonreciprocal phase transitions and contribute to the theory of nonreciprocal collective phenomena.

arXiv:2302.06386Physical Review LettersSep 13, 202353 citations

Magnetic Phase Transitions in Driven-Dissipative Atomic Ensembles Interacting with Quantum Light

Jan Gelhausen

Present-day experiments have started to couple traditional simulations of ultracold atom experiments with quantum light-fields in cavities. This has provided a wealth of op- portunities to enlarge the number of interaction potentials: cavity mediated long-range interactions compete with kinetic energies, longitudinal fields, short-ranged collisional or magnetic spin-spin interactions. The intracavity many-body lattice models often have to be maintained far from equilibrium through the presence of external driving lasers that help to boost and engineer the various interaction potentials. The steady influx of energy is compensated by a steady stream of energy out of the atom-cavity system for example by photon losses or atomic spontaneous emission. Several experiments have demonstrated that such environments can give rise to new competing quantum phases. \nBut this long-standing ambition to push for models with tailorable interaction potentials can bring with it also considerable challenges in their theoretical description, since sponta- neous symmetry breaking transitions in many body lattice systems coupled to dynamical light-fields with single-photon character occur in the presence of drive and dissipation for the photonic force carriers. This clearly calls for model systems where the above men- tioned interplay of interactions, drive, dissipation and cooperative many-body behaviour can be theoretically studied to provide simple, experimentally verifiable predictions. \nThe Dicke model is, through its simplicity (an exactly solved ferromagnet with infinite range atom-atom interactions mediated by a single cavity mode), an exceptionally well- suited candidate. As the generic model for atom-light interactions, it has been experimen- tally realized in a variety of modern quantum optical systems, highlighting its relevance for present-day research. The Dicke model is also highly versatile itself. It has been extended into the dissipative realm, was promoted to account for multiple optical light modes and was used to describe multiple, coupled single-mode cavity structures. It was adapted to treat spin-selective coupling to a cavity to describe superradiance phase tran- sitions in multi-level atomic systems. Moreover, it was realised in electronic circuits where the dipole coupling of real atoms to single mode fields is replaced by a capacitive cou- pling of artificial atoms to a resonator mode. This illustrates that the Dicke model and its extended variants are ’future-proof’ and continue to be of relevance for fundamental light-matter interactions and for driven-dissipative phase transitions. \nIn this thesis, we investigate magnetic phase transitions in driven-dissipative atomic en- sembles interacting with quantum light. We present three research projects on variants of cooperative radiation of an ensemble of laser driven two-level atoms in a single mode optical cavity, as described by the Dicke model. \nThroughout the chapters 2,3 and 4 that contain the main body of research of this thesis, we investigate phase transitions between non-equilibrium stationary states in engineered quantum-optical systems each of which extends the conventional Dicke model physics. As a starting point, we map the quantum equations of motion onto a set of semiclassical nonlinear stochastic equations and analyse their stationary states and instabilities with master equations for atomic spin and photon mean-field amplitudes. These are used to obtain experimentally relevant parameters such as critical atom-light couplings for phase transitions, phase diagrams and properties of stationary non-equilibrium states in addition to cavity output spectra that identify the imprint of magnetic correlations in the light-field. \nIn chapter 2, we help resolve a discrepancy between earlier experimental investigations of the critical atom-light coupling strength for the superradiance transition in the Dicke model: higher external pumping strengths than theoretically predicted were needed to observe a coherent, superradiant state of the light field in an optical cavity. By including incoherent spontaneous emission of atomic excitations, we extend the dissipative Dicke model to a two loss channel variant containing both photon leakage and atomic decay that reproduces the experimentally observed critical atom-light coupling. \nRecent experiments have started to interface quantum many body lattice models with coherent cavity fields, thereby allowing to realize new quantum phases through competing atom-cavity and atom-atom interactions. In chapter 3, we consider a simplified model for such a set-up where a single quantized mode of the light-field interacts with an ensemble of Rydberg-dressed atoms inside a high finesse optical cavity. This model provides a base case for further studies of quantum magnets in optical cavities. At the heart of this model is a competition of short- (dipolar atom-atom) and long-range (atom-light) interactions at the Hamiltonian level in the presence of both spontaneous emission and photon leak- age through the cavity mirrors. We show that different magnetic phases can coexist with coherent atomic radiation and provide clear experimental signatures to identify the mag- netic structure and intra-cavity dynamics. We suggest an experimental level-scheme for a quantum optical implementation of our model. \nIn chapter 4 we consider a generic, collective decay for many-body excitations in the paradigmatic Dicke model. This extension drastically enriches the dynamics as it induces a bicritical point and a bistable regime dominated by true non-equilibrium fluctuations that induce a dissipative first-order phase transition that can only be resolved by including finite fluctuation corrections with the help of stochastic Langevin equations. We investigate the hysteretic response to time-dependent ramps of the atom-light coupling. Discontinuous first-order phase transitions where metastable states coexist in a hysteresis domain have been investigated in recent dissipative quantum-optical experiments. We review noise- activation far from thermal equilibrium in chapter 5.Present-day experiments have started to couple traditional simulations of ultracold atom experiments with quantum light-fields in cavities. This has provided a wealth of op- portunities to enlarge the number of interaction potentials: cavity mediated long-range interactions compete with kinetic energies, longitudinal fields, short-ranged collisional or magnetic spin-spin interactions. The intracavity many-body lattice models often have to be maintained far from equilibrium through the presence of external driving lasers that help to boost and engineer the various interaction potentials. The steady influx of energy is compensated by a steady stream of energy out of the atom-cavity system for example by photon losses or atomic spontaneous emission. Several experiments have demonstrated that such environments can give rise to new competing quantum phases. \nBut this long-standing ambition to push for models with tailorable interaction potentials can bring with it also considerable challenges in their theoretical description, since sponta- neous symmetry breaking transitions in many body lattice systems coupled to dynamical light-fields with single-photon character occur in the presence of drive and dissipation for the photonic force carriers. This clearly calls for model systems where the above men- tioned interplay of interactions, drive, dissipation and cooperative many-body behaviour can be theoretically studied to provide simple, experimentally verifiable predictions. \nThe Dicke model is, through its simplicity (an exactly solved ferromagnet with infinite range atom-atom interactions mediated by a single cavity mode), an exceptionally well- suited candidate. As the generic model for atom-light interactions, it has been experimen- tally realized in a variety of modern quantum optical systems, highlighting its relevance for present-day research. The Dicke model is also highly versatile itself. It has been extended into the dissipative realm, was promoted to account for multiple optical light modes and was used to describe multiple, coupled single-mode cavity structures. It was adapted to treat spin-selective coupling to a cavity to describe superradiance phase tran- sitions in multi-level atomic systems. Moreover, it was realised in electronic circuits where the dipole coupling of real atoms to single mode fields is replaced by a capacitive cou- pling of artificial atoms to a resonator mode. This illustrates that the Dicke model and its extended variants are ’future-proof’ and continue to be of relevance for fundamental light-matter interactions and for driven-dissipative phase transitions. \nIn this thesis, we investigate magnetic phase transitions in driven-dissipative atomic en- sembles interacting with quantum light. We present three research projects on variants of cooperative radiation of an ensemble of laser driven two-level atoms in a single mode optical cavity, as described by the Dicke model. \nThroughout the chapters 2,3 and 4 that contain the main body of research of this thesis, we investigate phase transitions between non-equilibrium stationary states in engineered quantum-optical systems each of which extends the conventional Dicke model physics. As a starting point, we map the quantum equations of motion onto a set of semiclassical nonlinear stochastic equations and analyse their stationary states and instabilities with master equations for atomic spin and photon mean-field amplitudes. These are used to obtain experimentally relevant parameters such as critical atom-light couplings for phase transitions, phase diagrams and properties of stationary non-equilibrium states in addition to cavity output spectra that identify the imprint of magnetic correlations in the light-field. \nIn chapter 2, we help resolve a discrepancy between earlier experimental investigations of the critical atom-light coupling strength for the superradiance transition in the Dicke model: higher external pumping strengths than theoretically predicted were needed to observe a coherent, superradiant state of the light field in an optical cavity. By including incoherent spontaneous emission of atomic excitations, we extend the dissipative Dicke model to a two loss channel variant containing both photon leakage and atomic decay that reproduces the experimentally observed critical atom-light coupling. \nRecent experiments have started to interface quantum many body lattice models with coherent cavity fields, thereby allowing to realize new quantum phases through competing atom-cavity and atom-atom interactions. In chapter 3, we consider a simplified model for such a set-up where a single quantized mode of the light-field interacts with an ensemble of Rydberg-dressed atoms inside a high finesse optical cavity. This model provides a base case for further studies of quantum magnets in optical cavities. At the heart of this model is a competition of short- (dipolar atom-atom) and long-range (atom-light) interactions at the Hamiltonian level in the presence of both spontaneous emission and photon leak- age through the cavity mirrors. We show that different magnetic phases can coexist with coherent atomic radiation and provide clear experimental signatures to identify the mag- netic structure and intra-cavity dynamics. We suggest an experimental level-scheme for a quantum optical implementation of our model. \nIn chapter 4 we consider a generic, collective decay for many-body excitations in the paradigmatic Dicke model. This extension drastically enriches the dynamics as it induces a bicritical point and a bistable regime dominated by true non-equilibrium fluctuations that induce a dissipative first-order phase transition that can only be resolved by including finite fluctuation corrections with the help of stochastic Langevin equations. We investigate the hysteretic response to time-dependent ramps of the atom-light coupling. Discontinuous first-order phase transitions where metastable states coexist in a hysteresis domain have been investigated in recent dissipative quantum-optical experiments. We review noise- activation far from thermal equilibrium in chapter 5.

Aug 1, 20180 citations

Dissipation-Induced Instabilities of a Spinor Bose-Einstein Condensate Inside an Optical Cavity

E. I. Rodríguez Chiacchio, Andreas Nunnenkamp

We investigate the dynamics of a spinor Bose-Einstein condensate inside an optical cavity, driven transversely by a laser with a controllable polarization angle. We focus on a two-component Dicke model with complex light-matter couplings, in the presence of photon losses. We calculate the steady-state phase diagram and find dynamical instabilities in the form of limit cycles, heralded by the presence of exceptional points and level attraction. We show that the instabilities are induced by dissipative processes that generate nonreciprocal couplings between the two collective spins. Our predictions can be readily tested in state-of-the-art experiments and open up the study of nonreciprocal many-body dynamics out of equilibrium.We investigate the dynamics of a spinor Bose-Einstein condensate inside an optical cavity, driven transversely by a laser with a controllable polarization angle. We focus on a two-component Dicke model with complex light-matter couplings, in the presence of photon losses. We calculate the steady-state phase diagram and find dynamical instabilities in the form of limit cycles, heralded by the presence of exceptional points and level attraction. We show that the instabilities are induced by dissipative processes that generate nonreciprocal couplings between the two collective spins. Our predictions can be readily tested in state-of-the-art experiments and open up the study of nonreciprocal many-body dynamics out of equilibrium.

arXiv:1901.06996Physical Review LettersMay 17, 201979 citations

Spin fluctuations in the dissipative phase transitions of the quantum Rabi model

Jiahui Li, Rosario Fazio, Ying-Dan Wang +1 more

We investigate the dissipative phase transitions of the anisotropic quantum Rabi model with cavity decay and demonstrate that large spin fluctuations persist in the stationary state, having important consequences on the phase diagram and the critical properties. In the second-order phase transition to the superradiant phase, there is a significant suppression of the order parameter and the appearance of nonuniversal factors, which directly reflect the spin populations. Furthermore, upon entering a parameter regime where mean-field theory predicts a tricritical phase, we find a first-order phase transition due to the unexpected collapse of superradiance. An accurate and physically transparent description going beyond mean-field theory is established by combining exact numerical simulations, the cumulant expansion, and analytical approximations based on reduced master equations and an effective equilibrium theory. Our findings, compared to the conventional thermodynamic limit of the Dicke model, indicate a general tendency of forming extreme nonequilibrium states in the single-spin system, thus have broad implications for dissipative phase transitions of few-body systems. Published by the American Physical Society 2024We investigate the dissipative phase transitions of the anisotropic quantum Rabi model with cavity decay and demonstrate that large spin fluctuations persist in the stationary state, having important consequences on the phase diagram and the critical properties. In the second-order phase transition to the superradiant phase, there is a significant suppression of the order parameter and the appearance of nonuniversal factors, which directly reflect the spin populations. Furthermore, upon entering a parameter regime where mean-field theory predicts a tricritical phase, we find a first-order phase transition due to the unexpected collapse of superradiance. An accurate and physically transparent description going beyond mean-field theory is established by combining exact numerical simulations, the cumulant expansion, and analytical approximations based on reduced master equations and an effective equilibrium theory. Our findings, compared to the conventional thermodynamic limit of the Dicke model, indicate a general tendency of forming extreme nonequilibrium states in the single-spin system, thus have broad implications for dissipative phase transitions of few-body systems. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

arXiv:2312.06376Physical Review ResearchDec 10, 20246 citations

\mathcal{PT}

We investigate how to describe the dissipative spin dynamics of the driven-dissipative Dicke model, describing

N

two-level atoms coupled to a cavity mode, after adiabatic elimination of the cavity mode. To this end, we derive a Redfield master equation which goes beyond the standard secular approximation and large detuning limits. We show that the secular (or rotating wave) approximation and the large detuning approximation both lead to inadequate master equations, that fail to predict the Dicke transition or the damping rates of the atomic dynamics. In contrast, the full Redfield theory correctly predicts the phase transition and the effective atomic damping rates. Our work provides a reliable framework to study the full quantum dynamics of atoms in a multimode cavity, where a quantum description of the full model becomes intractable.