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Title: Exploring Symmetry Breaking at the Dicke Quantum Phase Transition

Journal Article · · Physical Review Letters
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Institute for Quantum Electronics, ETH Zuerich, 8093 Zuerich (Switzerland)

We study symmetry breaking at the Dicke quantum phase transition by coupling a motional degree of freedom of a Bose-Einstein condensate to the field of an optical cavity. Using an optical heterodyne detection scheme, we observe symmetry breaking in real time and distinguish the two superradiant phases. We explore the process of symmetry breaking in the presence of a small symmetry-breaking field and study its dependence on the rate at which the critical point is crossed. Coherent switching between the two ordered phases is demonstrated.

OSTI ID:
21611793
Journal Information:
Physical Review Letters, Vol. 107, Issue 14; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.140402; (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0031-9007
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English