Superradiance-induced multistability in one-dimensional driven Rydberg lattice gases

We study steady-state phases of a one-dimensional array of Rydberg atoms coupled by a microwave (MW) field where the higher-energy Rydberg state decays to the lower-energy one via single-body and collective (superradiant) decay. Using mean-field approaches, we examine the interplay among the MW coupling, intrastate van der Waals (vdW) interaction, and single-body and collective dissipation between Rydberg states. A linear stability analysis reveals that a series of phases, including uniform, antiferromagnetic, oscillatory, and bistable and multistable phases can be obtained. Without the vdW interaction, only uniform phases are found. In the presence of the vdW interaction, multistable solutions are enhanced when increasing the strength of the superradiant decay rate. Our numerical simulations show that the bistable and multistable phases are stabilized by superradiance in a long chain. The critical point between the uniform and multistable phases and its scaling with the atom number is obtained. Through numerically solving the master equation of a finite chain, we show that the mean-field multistable phase could be characterized by expectation values of Rydberg populations and two-body correlations between Rydberg atoms in different sites.

Automated summary

In this study, steady-state phases of a one-dimensional array of Rydberg atoms coupled by a microwave field were investigated. The interplay among the microwave coupling, van der Waals interaction, and single-body and collective decay between Rydberg states was examined. Different phases, including uniform, antiferromagnetic, oscillatory, bistable, and multistable phases, were observed. Numerical simulations and linear stability analysis were performed to investigate the critical point and scaling of the phase transition with the atom number.