Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 22, 2026
07:56
A Photonic System for Generating Unconditional Polarization-Entangled Photons Based on Multiple Quantum Interference
Published on: September 5, 2019
9.0K
Spontaneous Polariton Currents in Periodic Lateral Chains
A V Nalitov1, T C H Liew2, A V Kavokin1,3,4,5
1School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom.
Physical Review Letters
|September 27, 2017
Summary
We predict spontaneous superfluid polariton currents in modulated microcavities. These currents break spatial symmetry, with direction chosen randomly, forming domains whose size and lifetime depend on pumping power.
Area of Science:
- Quantum optics
- Condensed matter physics
Background:
- Polaritons are quasiparticles formed from exciton-photon coupling in semiconductor microcavities.
- Spontaneous pattern formation and symmetry breaking are key phenomena in driven-dissipative quantum systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To predict the spontaneous generation of superfluid polariton currents.
- To investigate the conditions and characteristics of current generation in modulated microcavities.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical prediction using a model of polariton condensates.
- Analysis of spatial inversion symmetry breaking.
- Investigation of current stability against fluctuations.
- Study of domain structure formation and scaling properties.
Main Results:
- Spontaneous superfluid polariton currents emerge above a critical pumping threshold.
- The direction of the polariton current is stochastically determined.
- A unique domain structure forms, with current direction switching at domain walls.
- Domain size and lifetime exhibit scaling behavior with pumping power.
Conclusions:
- Lateral modulation of potential and decay rates can induce spontaneous superfluid currents.
- The observed phenomena offer insights into symmetry breaking and pattern formation in quantum systems.
- The findings pave the way for controlling polariton dynamics in microcavity devices.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Potential Due to a Polarized Object
827
A neutral atom consists of a positively charged nucleus surrounded by a negatively charged electron cloud. When placed in an external electric field, the external electric force pulls the electrons and nucleus apart, opposite to the intrinsic attraction between the nucleus and the electrons. The opposing forces balance each other with a slight shift between the center of masses of the nucleus and the electron cloud, resulting in a polarized atom. On the other hand, a few molecules, like water,...
827
01:28Induced Electric Dipoles
4.9K
A permanent electric dipole orients itself along an external electric field. This rotation can be quantified by defining the potential energy because the external torque does work in rotating it. Then, the potential energy is minimum at the parallel configuration and maximum at the antiparallel configuration. While the former is a stable equilibrium, the latter is an unstable equilibrium.
Since the absolute value of potential energy holds no physical meaning, its zero value can be chosen as per...
Since the absolute value of potential energy holds no physical meaning, its zero value can be chosen as per...
4.9K
01:17Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching
2.5K
The skeletal structure of polymers synthesized via radical polymerization is always branched. For example, the polymerization of ethylene by radical polymerization results in a low-density grade of polyethylene with a heavily branched skeletal structure. Here, the radical site abstracts hydrogen from the growing chain, and the radical site shifts from the end (a primary carbon center) to anywhere within the growing chain (a secondary carbon center). Consequently, the part of the chain from the...
2.5K
01:04Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
2.6K
The mechanism for anionic chain-growth polymerization involves initiation, propagation, and termination steps. In the initiation step, a nucleophilic anion, such as butyl lithium, initiates the polymerization process by attacking the π bond of the vinylic monomer. As a result, a carbanion, stabilized by the electron‐withdrawing group, is generated. The resulting carbanion acts as a Michael donor in the propagation step and attacks the second vinylic monomer, which acts as a Michael...
2.6K
01:17Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview
4.1K
Ziegler–Natta polymerization is another form of addition or chain‐growth polymerization used for synthesizing linear polymers over branched polymers. The catalyst used for polymerization is the Ziegler–Natta catalyst, named after Karl Ziegler and Giulio Natta, who developed it in 1953. This catalyst is an organometallic complex of titanium tetrachloride and triethyl aluminum, with the active form of the catalyst being an alkyl titanium compound. Using the Ziegler–Natta...
4.1K
01:23Magnetic Field due to Moving Charges
11.8K
A stationary charge creates and interacts with the electric field, while a moving charge creates a magnetic field.
Consider a point charge moving with a constant velocity. Like the electric field, the magnetic field at any point is directly proportional to the magnitude of the charge and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the source point and the field point. However, unlike the electric field, the magnetic field is always perpendicular to the plane containing the line...
Consider a point charge moving with a constant velocity. Like the electric field, the magnetic field at any point is directly proportional to the magnitude of the charge and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the source point and the field point. However, unlike the electric field, the magnetic field is always perpendicular to the plane containing the line...
11.8K