English

Universal quantum melting of quasiperiodic attractors in driven-dissipative cavities

Quantum Physics 2026-05-14 v2 Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics Adaptation and Self-Organizing Systems Chaotic Dynamics

Abstract

Nonlinear classical mechanics has established rich phenomena. These include limit tori defined by toroidal attractors supporting quasiperiodic motion with incommensurate frequencies. We study the fate of such structures in open quantum systems using two coupled driven-dissipative Kerr cavities modeled via the Lindblad master equation. Combining Liouvillian spectral theory with the truncated Wigner approximation, we characterize the quantum-to-classical crossover. In the classical limit, two pairs of purely imaginary Liouvillian eigenvalues signal persistent quasiperiodic modes. Quantum fluctuations induce small negative real parts to these eigenvalues, giving rise to finite lifetimes and leading to the quantum melting of the torus. The associated Liouvillian gaps vanish algebraically in the classical limit, indicating a dynamical critical crossover with spontaneous breaking of time-translational symmetry. Quantum trajectory analysis reveals that this melting is driven by fluctuation-induced dephasing. Using a circular-variance-based order parameter, we uncover universal scaling in system size and time. These results establish quantum melting of limit tori as a distinct and robust non-equilibrium critical phenomenon, with clear experimental signatures in trapped ions and superconducting circuits.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2507.03764,
  title  = {Universal quantum melting of quasiperiodic attractors in driven-dissipative cavities},
  author = {Caroline Nowoczyn and Ludwig Mathey and Kilian Seibold},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2507.03764},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

14 pages, 5 figures, comments are welcome