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Dynamical tipping in a quantum limit cycle

Ya-Xin Xiang1, Zhengyang Bai1,*, and Yu-Qiang Ma1,2,†

  • *Contact author: zhybai@nju.edu.cn
  • †Contact author: myqiang@nju.edu.cn
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Phys. Rev. Research 8, 033100 – Published 24 July, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/x6rt-7ml3

Abstract

Nonequilibrium systems maintain spatiotemporal order through energy dissipation and entropy production. Here, we demonstrate this principle by engineering a quantum limit cycle that emerges from the interplay between a first-order absorbing-state phase transition and feedback mechanism coupling order and control parameters. The quantum limit cycle manifests dynamical correlations driven by multiplicative quantum noise and periodic traverses through tipping points, which act as a robust early-warning signal for state transitions. This periodic crossing results in the enhanced dynamical susceptibility and transient rise of long-range correlations near each tipping event and their subsequent disappearance away from it. These critical transitions are accompanied by a sharp increase in the energy dissipation rate, leading to a stepwise accumulation of dynamical entropy production over time. Our results provide a way for realizing dynamical fluctuations and long-range correlations in strongly interacting driven-dissipative open quantum systems.

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Phys. Rev. Research 8, 033100– Published 24 July, 2026
  • Received 26 January 2026
  • Accepted 22 June 2026
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