We investigate two coupled nonlinear cavities that are coherently driven in a dissipative environment. We perform semiclassical, numerical and analytical quantum studies of this dimer model when both cavities are symmetrically driven. In the semiclassical analysis, we find steady-state solutions with different photon occupations in two cavities. Such states can be considered analogs of the closed system double well symmetry breaking states. We analyze the occurrence and properties of these localized states in the system parameter space and examine how the symmetry breaking states, in form of a bistable pair, are associated to the single cavity bistable behavior. In a full quantum calculation of the master equation dynamics that includes quantum fluctuations, the symmetry breaking states and bistability disappear due to the quantum fluctuations. In quantum trajectory picture, we observe enhanced quantum jumps and switching which indicate the presence of the underlying semiclassical symmetry breaking states. Finally, we present a set of analytical solutions for the steady state correlation functions using the complex P-representation and discuss its regime of validity.
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