Quantum field theoretical study of an effective spin model in coupled optical cavity arrays

Atoms trapped in micro-cavities and interacting through the exchange of virtual photons can be modeled as an anisotropic Heisenberg spin-1/2 lattice. We do the quantum field theoretical study of such a system using the Abelian bosonization method followed by the renormalization group analysis. An infinite order Berezinskii-Kosterliz-Thouless transition is replaced by second order XY transition even when an infinitesimal anisotropy in exchange coupling is introduced. We predict a quantum phase transition between the photonic Coulomb blocked induce Mott insulating and photonic superfluid phases due to detuning between the cavity and laser frequency. A large detuning favors the photonic superfluid phase. We also perform the analysis of Jaynes and Cumming Hamiltonian to support the results of quantum field theoretical study.