Quantum phase transitions of the Cavity Heisenberg spin-chain

Abstract

The interplay between quantum criticality and ergodicity breaking constitutes a central challenge in complex quantum many-body systems. Here, we investigate ground-state quantum phase transitions (QPTs) and excited-state quantum phase transitions (ESQPTs), as well as ergodic-nonergodic transition in the cavity Heisenberg spin-chain (CHS) model. By combining quantum information measures with semiclassical fixed-point analysis, we identify a deformed phase that interpolates between the normal and superradiant phases, featuring a logarithmic nonanalyticity in the density of states (DoS) and two additional jump discontinuities. We further elucidate the spectral-structure mechanism underlying the connection between ESQPTs and the ergodic--nonergodic transition (ENET) via level statistics, participation ratios, and multifractal analysis. Our results provide a general framework for characterizing phase structures and spectral features in light--matter quantum many-body systems.