Holographic quantum phase transitions and interacting bulk scalars

TL;DR

This paper studies a holographic model with two interacting scalar fields in zero temperature backgrounds, revealing a second order quantum phase transition where one scalar condenses as the source for the other is varied.

Contribution

It introduces a novel holographic setup with two interacting bulk scalars lacking continuous symmetry, demonstrating a quantum critical phase transition and analyzing its phase diagram.

Findings

Second order quantum phase transition with scalar condensation

Similar phase structure in $AdS_4$ and $AdS$ soliton backgrounds

Numerical computation of the condensate across the transition

Abstract

We consider a system of two massive, mutually interacting probe real scalar fields, in zero temperature holographic backgrounds. The system does not have any continuous symmetry. For a suitable range of the interaction parameters adhering to the interaction potential between the bulk scalars, we have shown that as one turns on the source for one scalar field, the system may go through a second order quantum critical phase transition across which the second scalar field forms a condensate. We have looked at the resulting phase diagram and numerically computed the condensate. We have also investigated our system in two different backgrounds: $AdS_4$ and $AdS$ soliton, and got similar phase structure.