Progress Toward a Cavity-QED Realization of the Dicke Model Quantum Phase Transition

We present progress towards a Cavity-QED realization of the quantum phase transition seen in the Dicke Model Hamiltonian for $N > 1$ spins coupled to a single Bosonic field mode, as proposed by Dimer \emph{et. al.} Phys. Rev. A. \textbf{75}, 013804 (2007). The implementation is based upon cesium atoms held within a high finesse optical cavity. Cavity-mediated Raman transitions between magnetically detuned Zeeman sublevels provides near critical coupling between a collective pseudo-spin and a quantized cavity mode. Progress has been made in building the necessary infrastructure to collect $\sim10^{6}$ atoms in an intracavity optical lattice, while still maintaining a background pressure of $\sim10^{-10}$ torr. A tandem vacuum chamber provides a pressure difference of 2 orders of magnitude. A 2D-MOT will funnel atoms from a high pressure chamber into the lower pressure science chamber. Current efforts are directed towards capturing the funneled atoms.