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Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Using Microwave and Macroscopic Samples of Dielectric Solids to Study the Photonic Properties of Disordered Photonic Bandgap Materials
Published on: September 26, 2014
Polariton condensation in a one-dimensional disordered potential.
F Manni1, K G Lagoudakis, B Pietka
1Institute of Condensed Matter Physics, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. francesco.manni@epfl.ch
We observed how disorder affects exciton-polariton condensates in one dimension. Increased pump power enhanced disorder-induced density modulation, impacting spatial coherence in this nonequilibrium system.
Area of Science:
- Condensed matter physics
- Quantum optics
Background:
- Exciton-polariton condensates are Bose-Einstein condensates formed by coupling exciton and photon fields.
- One-dimensional systems and disorder introduce unique quantum phenomena.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate coherence and density modulation in a disordered 1D exciton-polariton condensate.
- Understand the interplay between disorder, pump power, and condensate properties.
Main Methods:
- Utilized interferometric measurements to probe coherence.
- Analyzed spatial coherence function and condensate density.
Main Results:
- Observed modulation of the first-order coherence function.
- Linked this modulation to disorder-induced density changes.
- Found density modulation increases with pump power.
Conclusions:
- The nonequilibrium nature of the 1D system with disorder leads to nonmonotonic spatial coherence.
- Disorder plays a crucial role in shaping condensate properties in reduced dimensions.
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