Abstract
We theoretically investigated the ground states of coupled arrays of cavity-quantum-electrodynamical (cavity-QED) systems in the presence of two photon modes. Within the Gutzwiller-type variational approach, we found the first-order quantum phase transition between Mott-insulating and superfluid phases as well as the conventional second-order one. The first-order phase transition was found only for specific types of emitter models, and its physical origin is clarified based on the analytic arguments which are allowed in the perturbative and semiclassical limits. The first-order transition of the correlated photons is accompanied with discontinuous change in the emitter states, not only with the appearance of intercavity coherence in the superfluid phase. We also discuss the condition for the first-order transition to occur, which can lead to a strategy for future design of quantum-optical switching devices with cavity-QED arrays.
- Received 16 January 2013
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.87.053842
©2013 American Physical Society