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arXiv:1809.00757 · Physical review. B./Physical review. B

Direct measurement of polariton-polariton interaction strength in the Thomas-Fermi regime of exciton-polariton condensation

Eliezer Estrecho, Tingge Gao, Nataliya Bobrovska, D. Comber-Todd, M. D. Fraser, Mark Steger, K. W. West, Loren N. Pfeiffer, Jesper Levinsen, Meera M. Parish, T. C. H. Liew, Michał Matuszewski, David W. Snoke, Andrew G. Truscott, Elena A. Ostrovskaya

Published Jul 15, 2019• 102 citations
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Abstract

Bosonic condensates of exciton polaritons typically coexist and interact with an incoherent reservoir, which undermines measurements of key parameters of the condensate. Here, the authors overcome this limitation by creating a high-density polariton condensate in an optically induced box trap. In this interaction-dominated Thomas-Fermi regime, the condensate is fully separated from the reservoir, which enables a direct measurement of the polariton-polariton interaction strength. The results of the measurement are in agreement with theoretical predictions.

DOI
10.1103/physrevb.100.035306

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Bosonic condensates of exciton polaritons typically coexist and interact with an incoherent reservoir, which undermines measurements of key parameters of the condensate. Here, the authors overcome this limitation by creating a high-density polariton condensate in an optically induced box trap. In this interaction-dominated Thomas-Fermi regime, the condensate is fully separated from the reservoir, which enables a direct measurement of the polariton-polariton interaction strength. The results of the measurement are in agreement with theoretical predictions.
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Abstract In recent years, quantum information science has made significant progress, leading to a multitude of quantum protocols for the most diverse applications. States carrying resources such as quantum coherence are a key component for these protocols. In this study, we optimize the quantum coherence of a nonresonantly excited exciton-polariton condensate of long living polaritons by minimizing the condensate’s interaction with the surrounding reservoir of excitons and free carriers. By combining experimental phase space data with a displaced thermal state model, we observe how quantum coherence builds up as the system is driven above the condensation threshold. Our findings demonstrate that a spatial separation between the condensate and the reservoir enhances the state’s maximum quantum coherence directly beyond the threshold. These insights pave the way for integrating polariton systems into hybrid quantum devices and advancing applications in quantum technologies.