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Dissipation engineering of quantum phase transitions in a Jaynes-Cummings tunneling junction
Phys. Rev. A 113, 033708 – Published 9 March, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/xr8f-31j3
Abstract
The onset of a quantum phase transition in the Jaynes-Cummings model (JCM) and beyond has been a central goal in quantum light-matter interactions, yet the role of dissipation—often considered detrimental—remains less explored. Here, we demonstrate the proactive creation and control of such phase transitions in a tunneling-driven two-photon JCM via dissipation engineering. We show that single-photon loss triggers a first-order quantum phase transition accompanied by the bistability within a mean-field theory, while two-photon loss stabilizes it into a continuous second-order transition with a power-law behavior near the critical point. By designing electronic dissipation, we can further realize dynamic switching of the transition order, and its balance with the photonic component provides a mechanism for tailoring photon statistics in the phase transitions. Our work transforms dissipation from a disruptive force into a resource for sculpting quantum criticality, establishing a new paradigm for designing nonequilibrium phase diagrams in open quantum systems.
