Formation and control of transverse patterns in a quantum fluid of microcavity polaritons

P. Lewandowski, V. Ardizzone, Y. C. Tse, N. H. Kwong, M. H. Luk, A. Lücke, M. Abbarchi, J. Bloch, E. Baudin, E. Galopin, A. Lemaître, P. T. Leung, Ph Roussignol, R. Binder, J. Tignon, S. Schumacher

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Transverse patterns in polariton fluids were recently studied as promising candidates for all-optical low-intensity switching. Here, we demonstrate these patterns in a specifically designed double-cavity system. We theoretically and experimentally analyse their formation and optical control. Our detailed theoretical analysis of the coupled nonlinear dynamics of the optical fields inside the double-cavity and the excitonic excitations inside the embedded semiconductor quantum wells is firmly based on a microscopic many-particle theory. Our calculations in the time domain enable us to study both the ultrafast transient dynamics of the patterns and their steady-state behavior under stationary excitation conditions. The patterns we report and analyze go beyond what can be observed and understood in a simple scalar quantum field. We find that polarization-selective excitation of the polaritons leads to a complex interplay between longitudinal-transverse splitting of the cavity modes and the spin-dependent interactions of the polaritons' excitonic component.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationUltrafast Phenomena and Nanophotonics XVIII
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014
EventUltrafast Phenomena and Nanophotonics XVIII - San Francisco, CA, United States
Duration: Feb 2 2014Feb 5 2014

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume8984
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Other

OtherUltrafast Phenomena and Nanophotonics XVIII
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco, CA
Period2/2/142/5/14

Keywords

  • Microcavities
  • Nonlinear Optics
  • Pattern Formation
  • Polaritons

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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