# Phases of cold atoms interacting via photon-mediated long-range forces

## TL;DR

This paper explores the phase behavior of cold atoms interacting via photon-mediated long-range forces in a two-mode cavity, revealing phases analogous to the Generalized Hamiltonian Mean Field model and discussing ensemble inequivalence.

## Contribution

It demonstrates that a two-mode cavity system exhibits phases of the Generalized Hamiltonian Mean Field model, linking atomic spatial order to cavity light emission.

## Key findings

- Identification of paramagnetic, nematic, and ferromagnetic phases in atomic spatial arrangements.
- Correlation between cavity emitted light and atomic phase states.
- Potential to study ensemble inequivalence in this optical system.

## Abstract

Atoms in high-finesse optical resonators interact via the photons they multiply scatter into the cavity modes. The dynamics is characterized by dispersive and dissipative optomechanical long-range forces, which are mediated by the cavity photons, and exhibits a steady state for certain parameter regimes. In standing-wave cavities the atoms can form stable spatial gratings. Moreover, their asymptotic distribution is a Maxwell-Boltzmann whose effective temperature is controlled by the laser parameters. In this work we show that in a two-mode standing-wave cavity the stationary state possesses the same properties and phases of the Generalized Hamiltonian Mean Field model in the canonical ensemble. This model has three equilibrium phases: a paramagnetic, a nematic, and a ferromagnetic one, which here correspond to different spatial orders of the atomic gas and can be detected by means of the light emitted by the cavities. We further discuss perspectives for investigating in this setup the ensemble inequivalence predicted for the Generalized Hamiltonian Mean Field model.