Quantum phase transition in the generalized Dicke model: Inhomogeneous coupling and universality

The Dicke model generalized to the case where the dependence of the coupling constant on individual atoms is taken into account is investigated. It is shown that the generalized Dicke model exhibits a quantum phase transition from the normal phase to the superradiant phase in the thermodynamic limit, as well as the standard Dicke model. The mean photon number, the atomic inversion, the lowest excitation energy, and the entanglement entropy between the field and the atoms are evaluated analytically or numerically, and the critical behavior is examined. As a result, it turns out that the critical behavior in the generalized model is essentially the same as that in the standard model. This implies universality in the Dicke model.