arXiv:2112.01100 · Physical review. B./Physical review. B
Coherent contributions to population dynamics in a semiconductor microcavity
Jagannath Paul, Hendrik Rose, Ethan Swagel, T. Meier, Jared K. Wahlstrand, Alan D. Bristow
Abstract
Multidimensional coherent spectroscopy (MDCS) is used to separate coherent and incoherent nonlinear contributions to the population-time dynamics in a GaAs-based semiconductor microcavity encapsulating a single InGaAs quantum well. In a three-pulse four-wave-mixing scheme, the second delay time is the population time that in MDCS probes excited-state coherences and population dynamics. Nonlinear optical interactions can mix these contributions, which are isolated here for the lower- and upper-exciton polariton through the self- and mutual-interaction features. Results show fast decays and oscillations arising from the coherent response, including a broad stripe along the absorption energy axis, and longer time mutual-interaction features that do not obey a simple population decay model. These results are qualitatively replicated by Bloch equation simulations for the $1s$ exciton strongly coupled to the intracavity field. The simulations allow for separation of coherent and incoherent Pauli-blocking and Coulomb interaction terms within the ${\ensuremath{\chi}}^{(3)}$-limit, and a direct comparison of each feature in one-quantum rephasing and zero-quantum spectra.