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Probing a Dissipative Phase Transition via Dynamical Optical Hysteresis.
S R K Rodriguez1, W Casteels2, F Storme2
1Centre de Nanosciences et de Nanotechnologies, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, C2N-Marcoussis, 91460 Marcoussis, France.
Physical Review Letters
|July 1, 2017
Summary
We observed optical hysteresis in semiconductor microcavities, finding that fluctuations cause a double power law decay that transitions to a single power law near the thermodynamic limit, indicating a dissipative phase transition.
Area of Science:
- Condensed matter physics
- Quantum optics
Background:
- Semiconductor microcavities exhibit complex optical phenomena.
- Understanding dynamical hysteresis is crucial for quantum device applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally investigate the dynamical optical hysteresis in a semiconductor microcavity.
- To analyze the influence of sweep time and fluctuations on hysteresis behavior.
- To identify the underlying physics governing the observed phenomena, particularly phase transitions.
Main Methods:
- Experimental measurement of optical hysteresis in a semiconductor microcavity.
- Varying the sweep time to observe dynamical effects.
- Analyzing the hysteresis area as a function of system parameters like average photon number.
- Comparing experimental results with theoretical predictions for quantum fluctuations.
Main Results:
- Hysteresis area shows a double power law decay influenced by fluctuations and metastable state switching.
- The double power law transitions to a single power law as the system approaches the thermodynamic limit.
- Observed algebraic behavior is characteristic of a dissipative phase transition.
Conclusions:
- Experimental findings align with theoretical models of single-mode resonators with quantum fluctuations.
- The study provides insights into critical phenomena in photonic systems.
- The experimental approach is suitable for further exploration of critical phenomena in photonic lattices.
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