Publication
A fundamental problem of out-of-equilibrium physics is the speed at which the order parameter grows upon crossing a phase transition. Here, we investigate the ordering dynamics in a Fermi gas undergoing a density-wave phase transition induced by quenching infinite-range, cavity-mediated interactions. We observe, in real time, the exponential rise of the order parameter and track its growth over several orders of magnitude. Remarkably, the growth rate can exceed the Fermi energy by an order of magnitude, consistent with predictions from a linearized instability analysis. This case contrasts with the ordering process driven by short-range interactions. We then generalize our results to linear interaction ramps, where deviations from the adiabatic behavior are captured by a simple dynamical ansatz. Our study offers a paradigmatic example of the interplay between strong short- and long-range interactions in quantum nonequilibrium dynamics. Published by the American Physical Society 2025