Localization measures of parity adapted U(D)-spin coherent states applied to the phase space analysis of the D-level Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick model.

We study phase space properties of critical, parity symmetric, N-qudit systems undergoing a quantum phase transition (QPT) in the thermodynamic N→∞ limit. The D=3 level (qutrit) Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick model is eventually examined as a particular example. For this purpose, we consider U(D)-spin coherent states (DSCS), generalizing the standard D=2 atomic coherent states, to define the coherent state representation Q_{ψ} (Husimi function) of a symmetric N-qudit state |ψ〉 in the phase space CP^{D-1} (complex projective manifold). DSCS are good variational approximations to the ground state of an N-qudit system, especially in the N→∞ limit, where the discrete parity symmetry Z_{2}^{D-1} is spontaneously broken. For finite N, parity can be restored by projecting DSCS onto 2^{D-1} different parity invariant subspaces, which define generalized "Schrödinger cat states" reproducing quite faithfully low-lying Hamiltonian eigenstates obtained by numerical diagonalization. Precursors of the QPT are then visualized for finite N by plotting the Husimi function of these parity projected DSCS in phase space, together with their Husimi moments and Wehrl entropy, in the neighborhood of the critical points. These are good localization measures and markers of the QPT.

Role of mixed permutation symmetry sectors in the thermodynamic limit of critical three-level Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick atom models.

We introduce the notion of mixed symmetry quantum phase transition (MSQPT) as singularities in the transformation of the lowest-energy state properties of a system of identical particles inside each permutation symmetry sector µ, when some Hamiltonian control parameters λ are varied. We use a three-level Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick model, with U(3) dynamical symmetry, to exemplify our construction. After reviewing the construction of U(3) unitary irreducible representations using Young tableaux and the Gelfand basis, we first study the case of a finite number N of three-level atoms, showing that some precursors (fidelity susceptibility, level population, etc.) of MSQPTs appear in all permutation symmetry sectors. Using coherent (quasiclassical) states of U(3) as variational states, we compute the lowest-energy density for each sector µ in the thermodynamic N→∞ limit. Extending the control parameter space by µ, the phase diagram exhibits four distinct quantum phases in the λ-µ plane that coexist at a quadruple point. The ground state of the whole system belongs to the fully symmetric sector µ=1 and shows a fourfold degeneracy, due to the spontaneous breakdown of the parity symmetry of the Hamiltonian. The restoration of this discrete symmetry leads to the formation of four-component Schrödinger cat states.