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Updated: May 28, 2026
07:56
A Photonic System for Generating Unconditional Polarization-Entangled Photons Based on Multiple Quantum Interference
Published on: September 5, 2019
Spontaneous pattern formation in a polariton condensate.
F Manni1, K G Lagoudakis, T C H Liew
1Institute of Condensed Matter Physics, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland. francesco.manni@epfl.ch
Physical Review Letters
|October 11, 2011
Summary
Researchers observed spontaneous pattern formation in exciton-polariton condensates. Under specific pumping conditions, these condensates self-organized into unique, multi-lobed standing-wave patterns.
Area of Science:
- Quantum physics
- Condensed matter physics
Background:
- Exciton-polariton condensates exhibit self-organization and phase ordering.
- Further ordering in particle density distribution is possible under specific conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate spontaneous pattern formation in exciton-polariton condensates.
- To explore the effects of nonresonant optical pumping on condensate ordering.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing nonresonant optical pumping.
- Employing a slightly elliptical ring-shaped excitation laser.
- Inducing condensation into a single-energy state with periodic boundary conditions.
Main Results:
- Observed spontaneous pattern formation in the polariton condensate.
- The excitation laser induced a transition to a multilobe standing-wave patterned state.
- Demonstrated self-organization leading to ordered density distributions.
Conclusions:
- Exciton-polariton condensates can exhibit complex spatial ordering beyond simple phase ordering.
- Nonresonant optical pumping with specific laser geometries can control condensate self-organization.
- The formation of multilobe standing-wave patterns is a key finding in polariton condensate dynamics.
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