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Dicke quantum phase transition with a superfluid gas in an optical cavity

Author

Listed:
  • Kristian Baumann

    (Institute for Quantum Electronics, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland)

  • Christine Guerlin

    (Institute for Quantum Electronics, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
    Present address: Thales Research and Technology, Campus Polytechnique, 1 Avenue Augustin Fresnel, F-91767 Palaiseau, France.)

  • Ferdinand Brennecke

    (Institute for Quantum Electronics, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland)

  • Tilman Esslinger

    (Institute for Quantum Electronics, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland)

Abstract

A phase transition describes the sudden change of state of a physical system, such as melting or freezing. Quantum gases provide the opportunity to establish a direct link between experiments and generic models that capture the underlying physics. The Dicke model describes a collective matter–light interaction and has been predicted to show an intriguing quantum phase transition. Here we realize the Dicke quantum phase transition in an open system formed by a Bose–Einstein condensate coupled to an optical cavity, and observe the emergence of a self-organized supersolid phase. The phase transition is driven by infinitely long-range interactions between the condensed atoms, induced by two-photon processes involving the cavity mode and a pump field. We show that the phase transition is described by the Dicke Hamiltonian, including counter-rotating coupling terms, and that the supersolid phase is associated with a spontaneously broken spatial symmetry. The boundary of the phase transition is mapped out in quantitative agreement with the Dicke model. Our results should facilitate studies of quantum gases with long-range interactions and provide access to novel quantum phases.

Suggested Citation

  • Kristian Baumann & Christine Guerlin & Ferdinand Brennecke & Tilman Esslinger, 2010. "Dicke quantum phase transition with a superfluid gas in an optical cavity," Nature, Nature, vol. 464(7293), pages 1301-1306, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:464:y:2010:i:7293:d:10.1038_nature09009
    DOI: 10.1038/nature09009
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    Cited by:

    1. Emmanuel Stiakakis & Niklas Jung & Nataša Adžić & Taras Balandin & Emmanuel Kentzinger & Ulrich Rücker & Ralf Biehl & Jan K. G. Dhont & Ulrich Jonas & Christos N. Likos, 2021. "Self assembling cluster crystals from DNA based dendritic nanostructures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Xi Chen & Ze Wu & Min Jiang & Xin-You Lü & Xinhua Peng & Jiangfeng Du, 2021. "Experimental quantum simulation of superradiant phase transition beyond no-go theorem via antisqueezing," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.

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