Frustrated Rydberg Atom Arrays Meet Cavity QED: Emergence of the Superradiant Clock Phase
Phys. Rev. Lett. 136, 073602 – Published 18 February, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/m14q-xbzc
Abstract
Rydberg atom triangular arrays in an optical cavity serve as an ideal platform for understanding the interplay between geometric frustration and quantized photons. Using a large-scale quantum Monte Carlo method, we obtain a rich ground state phase diagram. Around half-filling, the infinite long-range light-matter interaction lifts the ground state degeneracy, resulting in a novel order-coexisted superradiant clock phase that completely destroys the fragile order-by-disorder phase observed in classical light fields. According to the Ginzburg-Landau theory, this replacement may result from the competition between threefold and sixfold clock terms. Similar to the spin supersolid, the clear first-order phase transition at the symmetry line is attributed to the nonzero photon density, which couples to the threefold clock term. Finally, we discuss the low-energy physics in the dimer language and propose that cavity-mediated nonlocal ring exchange interactions may play a critical role in the rich physics induced by the attachment of cavity QED. Our Letter opens a new arena of research on the emergent phenomena of quantum phase transitions in many-body quantum optics.
