Driven generalized quantum Rayleigh-van der Pol oscillators: Phase localization and spectral response

Driven classical self-sustained oscillators have been studied extensively in the context of synchronization. Using the master equation, this work considers the classically driven generalized quantum Rayleigh-van der Pol oscillator, which is characterized by linear dissipative gain and loss terms as well as three nonlinear dissipative terms. Since two of the nonlinear terms break the rotational phase space symmetry, the Wigner distribution of the quantum mechanical limit cycle state of the undriven system is, in general, not rotationally symmetric. The impact of the symmetry-breaking dissipators on the long-time dynamics of the driven system are analyzed as functions of the drive strength and detuning, covering the deep quantum to near-classical regimes. Phase localization and frequency entrainment, which are required for synchronization, are discussed in detail. We identify a large parameter space where the oscillators exhibit appreciable phase localization but only weak or no entrainment, indicating the absence of synchronization. Several observables are found to exhibit the analog of the celebrated classical Arnold tongue; in some cases, the Arnold tongue is found to be asymmetric with respect to vanishing detuning between the external drive and the natural oscillator frequency.