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Cavity-induced bifurcation in classical rate theory
by Kalle Sulo Ukko Kansanen, Tero Tapio Heikkilä
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Submission summary
| Authors (as registered SciPost users): | Kalle Kansanen |
| Submission information | |
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| Preprint Link: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2202.12182v5 (pdf) |
| Date accepted: | 2024-01-02 |
| Date submitted: | 2023-12-11 11:08 |
| Submitted by: | Kansanen, Kalle |
| Submitted to: | SciPost Physics |
| Ontological classification | |
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| Academic field: | Physics |
| Specialties: |
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| Approach: | Theoretical |
Abstract
We show how coupling an ensemble of bistable systems to a common cavity field affects the collective stochastic behavior of this ensemble. In particular, the cavity provides an effective interaction between the systems, and parametrically modifies the transition rates between the metastable states. We predict that the cavity induces a collective phase transition at a critical temperature which depends linearly on the number of systems. It shows up as a spontaneous symmetry breaking where the stationary states of the bistable system bifurcate. We observe that the transition rates slow down independently of the phase transition, but the rate modification vanishes for alternating signs of the system-cavity couplings, corresponding to a disordered ensemble of dipoles. Our results are of particular relevance in polaritonic chemistry where the presence of a cavity has been suggested to affect chemical reactions.
List of changes
- Extended paragraph below Eq. (2) to discuss the physical applicability of classical rate or master equations
- Added a further explanation on the dipole moment function below Eq. (4) and its first-order expansion around the potential minima in the following paragraph
- Added Ref. 25 as an example of cavity effects on quantum tunneling
Published as SciPost Phys. 16, 025 (2024)