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Phase Transitions in Nonreciprocal Driven-Dissipative Condensates

Ron Belyansky1,*, Cheyne Weis2, Ryo Hanai3, Peter B. Littlewood2,4, and Aashish A. Clerk1

  • *Contact author: ron.belyansky@gmail.com
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Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 123401 – Published 15 September, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/gphr-d1bc

Abstract

We investigate the influence of boundaries and spatial nonreciprocity on nonequilibrium driven-dissipative phase transitions. We focus on a one-dimensional lattice of nonlinear bosons described by a Lindblad master equation, where the interplay between coherent and incoherent dynamics generates nonreciprocal interactions between sites. Using a mean-field approach, we analyze the phase diagram under both periodic and open boundary conditions. For periodic boundaries, the system always forms a condensate at nonzero momentum and frequency, resulting in a time-dependent traveling wave pattern. In contrast, open boundaries reveal a far richer phase diagram, featuring multiple static and dynamical phases, as well as exotic phase transitions, including the spontaneous breaking of particle-hole symmetry associated with a critical exceptional point and phases with distinct bulk and edge behavior. Our model does not require postselection and is experimentally realizable in platforms such as superconducting circuits.

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Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 123401– Published 15 September, 2025
  • Received 26 February 2025
  • Accepted 22 August 2025
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.

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