2019/05/31 by Gian Marcello Andolina, G. M. Andolina, F. M. D. Pellegrino +5 · 2 citations
Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics #Cavity quantum electrodynamics #Condensation #Condensed matter physics #Electron #Exciton #Field (mathematics) #Gauge (firearms) #Gauge theory #Materials science #Open quantum system #Photon #Physics #Quantum #Quantum Information and Cryptography #Quantum electrodynamics #Quantum field theory #Quantum mechanics #Strong Light-Matter Interactions #cond-mat.mes-hall #cond-mat.str-el #quant-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevb.100.121109
published as Phys. Rev. B 100, 121109 (2019) · Reference list updated and minor typos corrected
openalex created_date 2019/05/29 · openalex publication_date 2019/09/18 · arxiv created 2019/09/19 · arxiv updated 2019/09/25 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
In spite of decades of work it has remained unclear whether or not superradiant quantum phases, referred to here as photon condensates, can occur in equilibrium. In this Rapid Communication, we first show that when a nonrelativistic quantum many-body system is coupled to a cavity field, gauge invariance forbids photon condensation. We then present a microscopic theory of the cavity quantum electrodynamics of an extended Falicov-Kimball model, showing that, in agreement with the general theorem, its insulating ferroelectric and exciton condensate phases are not altered by the cavity and do not support photon condensation.