Nonlinear atom-photon-interaction-induced population inversion and inverted quantum phase transition of Bose-Einstein condensate in an optical cavity
Xiuqin Zhao, Ni Liu, J.-Q. Liang · Physical Review A · 2014
In this paper we explore the rich structure of macroscopic many-particle quantum states for a Bose-Einstein condensate in an optical cavity with a tunable nonlinear atom-photon interaction [K. Baumann et al., Nature (London) 464, 1301 (2010)]. Population inversion, bistable normal phases, and the coexistence of normal-superradiant phases are revealed by adjusting the experimentally realizable interaction strength and pump-laser frequency. For the negative (effective) cavity frequency we observe, remarkably, an inverted quantum phase transition (QPT) from the superradiant to the normal phases with an increase in atom-field coupling, which is just opposite the QPT in the normal Dicke model. Bistable macroscopic states are derived analytically in terms of the spin-coherent-state variational method by taking into account both normal and inverted pseudospin states.