Exploring Symmetry Breaking at the Dicke Quantum Phase Transition

2011/05/31 by K. Baumann, Kristian Baumann, Rafael Mottl +5 · 21 citations
Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates #Condensed matter physics #Critical point (mathematics) #Explicit symmetry breaking #Field (mathematics) #Phase (matter) #Phase transition #Physics #Quantum #Quantum Information and Cryptography #Quantum critical point #Quantum mechanics #Quantum optics and atomic interactions #Quantum phase transition #Quantum phases #Spontaneous symmetry breaking #Symmetry (geometry) #Symmetry breaking #cond-mat.quant-gas #quant-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.107.140402

published as Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 140402 (2011) · 4 pages, 4 figures

arxiv created 2011/09/07 · openalex publication_date 2011/09/30 · arxiv updated 2012/02/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

We study symmetry breaking at the Dicke quantum phase transition by coupling a motional degree of freedom of a Bose-Einstein condensate to the field of an optical cavity. Using an optical heterodyne detection scheme, we observe symmetry breaking in real time and distinguish the two superradiant phases. We explore the process of symmetry breaking in the presence of a small symmetry-breaking field and study its dependence on the rate at which the critical point is crossed. Coherent switching between the two ordered phases is demonstrated.

Citations

• Dynamics of a quantum phase transition and relaxation to a steady state
• Dicke-Model Phase Transition in the Quantum Motion of a Bose-Einstein Condensate in an Optical Cavity
• Self-organization of a Bose-Einstein condensate in an optical cavity
• Probing the Superfluid to Mott Insulator Transition at the Single Atom Level

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