Chiral Waveguide Optomechanics: First Order Quantum Phase Transitions with <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:msub><mml:mi mathvariant="double-struck">Z</mml:mi><mml:mn>3</mml:mn></mml:msub></mml:math> Symmetry Breaking

Abstract

We present a direct mapping between the quantum optomechanical problem of the atoms harmonically trapped in the vicinity of a chiral waveguide and a generalized quantum Rabi model, and we discuss the analogy between the self-organization of atomic chains in photonic structures and Dicke-like quantum phase transitions in the ultrastrong coupling regime. We extend the class of the superradiant phase transitions for the systems possessing Z_{3} rather than parity Z_{2} symmetry and demonstrate the emergence of the multicomponent Schrödinger-cat ground states in these systems.

Topics & Concepts