Quantum phase transitions in networks of Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick models

Abstract

We study the quantum critical behavior of networks consisting of Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick models with an anisotropic ferromagnetic coupling. We focus on the low-energy properties of the system within a mean-field approach and the quantum corrections around the mean-field solution. Our results show that the weak-coupling regime corresponds to the paramagnetic phase when the local field dominates the dynamics, but the local anisotropy leads to the existence of an exponentially-degenerate ground state. In the strong-coupling regime, the ground state is twofold degenerate and possesses long-range magnetic ordering. Analytical results for a network with the ring topology are obtained.