Antiferromagnetic long-range order in dissipative Rydberg lattices

Abstract

We study the dynamics of dissipative spin lattices with power-law interactions, realized via few-level atoms driven by coherent laser-coupling and decoherence processes. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we determine the phase diagram in the steady state and analyze its generation dynamics. As opposed to mean-field predictions and nearest-neighbor models, there is no transition to long-range-ordered phases for realistic interactions and resonant driving. However, for finite laser detunings, we demonstrate the emergence of crystalline order. Although the static and dynamical critical exponents of the revealed dissipative phase transition fall into the two-dimensional Ising universality class, the found steady states differ considerably from those of an equilibrium Ising magnet. Two complementary schemes for an experimental implementation with cold Rydberg atoms are discussed.