Ricardo Puebla

Quantum Phase Transition and Universal Dynamics in the Rabi Model.

We consider the Rabi Hamiltonian, which exhibits a quantum phase transition (QPT) despite consisting only of a single-mode cavity field and a two-level atom. We prove QPT by deriving an exact solution in the limit where the atomic transition frequency in the unit of the cavity frequency tends to infinity. The effect of a finite transition frequency is studied by analytically calculating finite-frequency scaling exponents as well as performing a numerically exact diagonalization. Going beyond this equilibrium QPT setting, we prove that the dynamics under slow quenches in the vicinity of the critical point is universal; that is, the dynamics is completely characterized by critical exponents. Our analysis demonstrates that the Kibble-Zurek mechanism can precisely predict the universal scaling of residual energy for a model without spatial degrees of freedom. Moreover, we find that the onset of the universal dynamics can be observed even with a finite transition frequency.

Probing the Dynamics of a Superradiant Quantum Phase Transition with a Single Trapped Ion

We demonstrate that the quantum phase transition (QPT) of the Rabi model and critical dynamics near the QPT can be probed in the setup of a single trapped ion. We first demonstrate that there exists equilibrium and nonequilibrium scaling functions of the Rabi model by finding a proper rescaling of the system parameters and observables, and show that those scaling functions are representative of the universality class to which the Rabi model belongs. We then propose a scheme that can faithfully realize the Rabi model in the limit of a large ratio of the effective atomic transition frequency to the oscillator frequency using a single trapped ion and, therefore, the QPT. It is demonstrated that the predicted universal functions can indeed be observed based on our scheme. Finally, the effects of realistic noise sources on probing the universal functions in experiments are examined.

Excited-state quantum phase transition in the Rabi model

The Rabi model, a two-level atom coupled to a harmonic oscillator, can undergo a second-order quantum phase transition (QPT) [M.-J. Hwang et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 180404 (2015)]. Here we show that the Rabi QPT accompanies critical behavior in the higher-energy excited states, i.e., the excited-state QPT (ESQPT). We derive analytic expressions for the semiclassical density of states, which show a logarithmic divergence at a critical energy eigenvalue in the broken symmetry (superradiant) phase. Moreover, we find that the logarithmic singularities in the density of states lead to singularities in the relevant observables in the system such as photon number and atomic polarization. We corroborate our analytical semiclassical prediction of the ESQPT in the Rabi model with its numerically exact quantum mechanical solution.

A robust scheme for the implementation of the quantum Rabi model in trapped ions

We show that the technique known as concatenated continuous dynamical decoupling (CCD) can be applied to a trapped-ion setup for a robust implementation of the quantum Rabi model in a variety of parameter regimes. These include the case where the Dirac equation emerges, and the limit in which a quantum phase transition takes place. We discuss the applicability of the CCD scheme in terms of the fidelity between different initial states evolving under an ideal quantum Rabi model and their corresponding trapped-ion realization, and demonstrate the effectiveness of noise suppression of our method.

Protected ultrastrong coupling regime of the two-photon quantum Rabi model with trapped ions

We propose a robust realization of the two-photon quantum Rabi model in a trapped-ion setting based on a continuous dynamical decoupling scheme. In this manner the magnetic dephasing noise, which is identified as the main obstacle to achieve long time coherent dynamics in ion-trap simulators, can be safely eliminated. More specifically, we investigate the ultrastrong coupling regime of the two-photon quantum Rabi model whose realization in trapped ions involves second-order sideband processes. Hence, the resulting dynamics becomes unavoidably slow and more exposed to magnetic noise requiring an appropriate scheme for its elimination. Furthermore, we discuss how dynamical decoupling methods take a dual role in our protocol, namely they remove the main source of decoherence from the dynamics while actively define the parameter regime of the simulated model.

Fokker-Planck formalism approach to Kibble-Zurek scaling laws and nonequilibrium dynamics

We study the non-equilibrium dynamics of second-order phase transitions in a simplified Ginzburg-Landau model using the Fokker-Planck formalism. In particular, we focus on deriving the Kibble-Zurek scaling laws that dictate the dependence of spatial correlations on the quench rate. In the limiting cases of overdamped and underdamped dynamics, the Fokker-Planck method confirms the theoretical predictions of the Kibble-Zurek scaling theory. The developed framework is computationally efficient, enables the prediction of finite-size scaling functions and is applicable to microscopic models as well as their hydrodynamic approximations. We demonstrate this extended range of applicability by analyzing the non-equilibrium linear to zigzag structural phase transition in ion Coulomb crystals confined in a trap with periodic boundary conditions.

Magnetic field fluctuations analysis for the ion trap implementation of the quantum Rabi model in the deep strong coupling regime

Abstract The dynamics of the quantum Rabi model (QRM) in the deep strong coupling regime is theoretically analyzed in a trapped-ion set-up. Recognizably, the main hallmark of this regime is the emergence of collapses and revivals, whose faithful observation is hindered under realistic magnetic dephasing noise. Here, we discuss how to attain a faithful implementation of the QRM in the deep strong coupling regime which is robust against magnetic field fluctuations and at the same time provides a large tunability of the simulated parameters. This is achieved by combining standing wave laser configuration with continuous dynamical decoupling. In addition, we study the role that amplitude fluctuations play to correctly attain the QRM using the proposed method. In this manner, the present work further supports the suitability of continuous dynamical decoupling techniques in trapped-ion settings to faithfully realize different interacting dynamics.

Connecting n th order generalised quantum Rabi models: Emergence of nonlinear spin-boson coupling via spin rotations

We establish an approximate equivalence between a generalised quantum Rabi model and its nth order counterparts, where spin-boson interactions are nonlinear as they comprise a simultaneous exchange of n bosonic excitations. Although there exists no unitary transformation between these models, we demonstrate their equivalence to a good approximation in a wide range of parameters. This shows that nonlinear spin-boson couplings, i.e., nth order quantum Rabi models, are accessible to quantum systems with only linear coupling between boson and spin modes by simply adding spin rotations and after an appropriate transformation. Furthermore, our result prompts novel approximate analytical solutions to the dynamics of the quantum Rabi model in the ultrastrong coupling regime improving previous approaches.Modelling light-matter coupling: a linear key to nonlinear interactionsDynamics of nonlinearly-interacting light-matter systems can be described using just linear terms and spin rotations. An international team of researchers, led by Jorge Casanova at the University of Ulm, managed to draw a connection between a generic model involving nonlinear interactions (i.e., emission/absorption of many photons at the same time from the same particle) with a simpler model involving just linear terms and spin rotation. This connection allows them to approximately simulate the dynamics of nonlinearly-interacting systems without actually including nonlinearities. Models such as the ones studied here describe many disparate quantum systems, and are thus both of fundamental and technological interest; in particular, the authors’ discovery would imply that quantum simulation of nonlinearly-interacting system can be performed also in systems lacking actual nonlinear spin-boson coupling.

Structural Phase Transitions

Phase transitions appear in any scenario analyzed in physics, describing transition of distinct phases of matter, which ranges from daily life experience to more exotics realms as quantum physics or cosmology (Stanley in Introduction to phase transitions and critical phenomena, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1971, [1], Huang in Statistical mechanics, Wiley, New York, 1987, [2], Goldenfeld in Lectures on phase transitions and the renormalization group, Addison-Wesley, 1992, [3]).

Concluding Remarks and Outlook

In this thesis we have studied equilibrium and nonequilibrium aspects of continuous phase transitions in distinct systems. We have made special emphasis on their nonequilibrium features, a much less understood topic than their static counterparts, aiming to elucidate questions such as to what extent the well-established universal static properties apply to the dynamics.