Probing the Dynamics of Superradiant Quantum Phase Transition in a Single Trapped-Ion

Understand

We demonstrate that the quantum phase transition (QPT) of the Rabi model and critical dynamics near the QPT can be probed in the setup of a single trapped ion.

• We first show that there exists equilibrium and non-equilibrium universal functions of the Rabi model by finding a proper rescaling of the system parameters and observables.
• We then propose a scheme that can faithfully realize the Rabi model in the limit of a large ratio of the effective atomic transition frequency to the oscillator frequency using a single trapped-ion and therefore the QPT.
• It is demonstrated that the predicted universal functions can indeed be observed based on our scheme.