Quantum tricritical point induced by staggered qubit biases in a two-qubit quantum Rabi model

Abstract We investigate the quantum phase transitions (QPTs) of the two-qubit quantum Rabi model with staggered qubit biases. In the limit of an infinite qubit-to-cavity frequency ratio, we analytically derive the mean-field Hamiltonian and the order-parameter-dependent energy density functional, which yields the ground-state energy and order parameter. The rich superradiant phase transitions (SRPTs), including both second- and first-order QPTs and a tricritical point (TCP), are analytically derived. Specifically, we derive the analytical expressions for all phase transition points, including the nonperturbative point of the first-order SRPT. The analytical findings are further corroborated by numerical finite-size scaling analysis. It is found that both the critical correlation-length and order-parameter exponents at the TCP differ from those of the original second-order SRPTs, implying that the TCP belongs to a new universality class. This work provides a reliable theoretical framework for designing new, simple experimental platforms to explore the rich QPTs.