Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical Review Letters

Quantum Theory of Spin Dynamics of Exciton-Polaritons in Microcavities

Kirill V. Kavokin, Ivan Andreevich Shelykh, Alexey Vitalievich Kavokin, G. Malpuech, Pierre Bigenwald

Published Jan 6, 2004• 141 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present the quantum theory of momentum and spin relaxation of exciton-polaritons in microcavities. We show that giant longitudinal-transverse splitting of the polaritons mixes their spin states, which results in beats between right- and left-circularly polarized photoluminescence of microcavities, as was recently experimentally observed [Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 077402 (2002)]]. This effect is strongly sensitive to the bosonic stimulation of polariton scattering.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.92.017401

Related papers

Observation of spin beats at the Rabi frequency in microcavities

A. Brunetti, Maria R. Vladimirova, D. Scalbert +4 more

Rabi oscillations are observed in the optically induced time-resolved Faraday rotation from a strong-coupling microcavity. They reveal the dynamics of the excitonic part of the polariton state, including the spin related information. The oscillations of the same period are observed at both circular and linear pumping, suggesting the splitting of the ground polariton state into a linearly polarized doublet.

Physical Review B•Dec 8, 2006•48 citations

Microcavity polariton spin quantum beats without a magnetic field: A manifestation of Coulomb exchange in dense and polarized polariton systems

P. Renucci, Th. Amand, X. Marie +4 more

Microcavity polariton spin dynamics is investigated in high-finesse microcavities under resonant excitation using polarization- and time-resolved secondary emission spectroscopy. Using an appropriate calibration procedure, the instantaneous polariton occupation numbers of the modes with $\mathbf{k}\ensuremath{\approx}\mathbf{0}$ wave vectors can be determined. When the phase-matching conditions are achieved, we show that Coulomb scattering dominates the other processes, and that stimulation occurs when the occupation of the $\mathbf{k}\ensuremath{\approx}\mathbf{0}$ final state with a given mode polarization approaches unity. Under elliptically polarized light, we show that the stimulated polariton scattering leads to an increase with time of the circular polarization of the $\mathbf{k}\ensuremath{\approx}\mathbf{0}$ states, while the linear polarization dynamics is characterized first by a fast drop to negative or zero values immediately after the excitation pulse, followed by weak-amplitude nonperiodic oscillations. The latter are interpreted as the manifestation of the pseudospin precession of the pumped polariton modes around the self-induced exchange effective field.

Physical Review B•Aug 5, 2005•154 citations

Dynamics of microcavity exciton polaritons in a Josephson double dimer

Christine Khripkov, Carlo Piermarocchi, Amichay Vardi

We study the dynamics of exciton polaritons in a double-well configuration. The system consists of two weakly coupled Bose-Josephson junctions, each corresponding to a different circular polarization of the polaritons, forming a Josephson double dimer. We show that the Josephson oscillation between the wells is strongly coupled to the polarization rotation and that, consequently, Josephson excitation is periodically exchanged between the two polarizations. Linearized analysis agrees well with numerical simulations using typical experimental parameters.

arXiv:1307.6691•Physical Review B•Dec 10, 2013•30 citations

Quantum optical effects in semiconductor microcavities

E. Giacobino, Jean‐Philippe Karr, Gaétan Messin +2 more

Investigations of quantum effects in semiconductor quantum-well microcavities interacting with laser light in the strong-coupling regime are presented. Modifications of quantum fluctuations of the outgoing light are expected due to the non-linearity originating from coherent exciton–exciton scattering. In the strong-coupling regime, this scattering translates into a four-wave mixing interaction between the mixed exciton–photon states, the polaritons. Squeezing and giant amplification of the polariton field and of the outgoing light field fluctuations are predicted. However, polariton–phonon scattering is shown to yield excess noise in the output field, which may destroy the non-classical effects. Experiments demonstrate evidence for giant amplification due to coherent four-wave mixing of polaritons. Noise reduction below the thermal noise level was also observed.

Comptes Rendus Physique•Jan 1, 2002•64 citations

On the condensation of exciton polaritons in microcavities induced by a magnetic field

Vladimir P. Kochereshko, Darya Avdoshina, Pavlos G. Savvidis +5 more

The photoluminescence spectra of exciton polaritons in microcavities under conditions of three-dimensional quantization are studied as a factor of the density of the optical excitation and magnetic field. The behavior of the degree of circular polarization of the exciton luminescence in a magnetic field shows that, when the concentration of excitons increases, they condense at the lowest Zeeman sublevel.

Semiconductors•Nov 1, 2016•5 citations

Study of exciton-polariton spin dynamics

HAMID RAHIMPOUR SOLEIMANI, S. Cronenberger, Olivier Crégut +5 more

We study the relaxation dynamics of spin-polarized exciton-polaritons using a technique in a pump-probe configuration: According to their total angular momentum, exciton-polaritons can be excited by circularly polarized light of either σ+ or σ− helicities. In addition, a bound state of two excitons may exist to which the transition is only allowed when using two photons of opposite helicities. After excitation by a pump pulse of σ+ helicity, additional polaritons from a probe pulse of σ− helicity may be absorbed to excite biexcitons, while absorption of those with σ+ helicity becomes possible only after a spin-flip process. It is characterized by a time-constant τs, which can be determined by a time-resolved study of the induced transmission changes at the exciton–biexciton transition. We demonstrate this method using bulk CuCl, in which the biexciton binding energy is large and in which effects due to polariton propagation can be nicely evidenced. We thus identify a spectral region where the spin-flip process is dominating, which is situated just below the polariton bottleneck.

Applied Physics Letters•Nov 29, 2004•22 citations
We present the quantum theory of momentum and spin relaxation of exciton-polaritons in microcavities. We show that giant longitudinal-transverse splitting of the polaritons mixes their spin states, which results in beats between right- and left-circularly polarized photoluminescence of microcavities, as was recently experimentally observed [Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 077402 (2002)]]. This effect is strongly sensitive to the bosonic stimulation of polariton scattering.
Microcavity polariton spin dynamics is investigated in high-finesse microcavities under resonant excitation using polarization- and time-resolved secondary emission spectroscopy. Using an appropriate calibration procedure, the instantaneous polariton occupation numbers of the modes with $\mathbf{k}\ensuremath{\approx}\mathbf{0}$ wave vectors can be determined. When the phase-matching conditions are achieved, we show that Coulomb scattering dominates the other processes, and that stimulation occurs when the occupation of the $\mathbf{k}\ensuremath{\approx}\mathbf{0}$ final state with a given mode polarization approaches unity. Under elliptically polarized light, we show that the stimulated polariton scattering leads to an increase with time of the circular polarization of the $\mathbf{k}\ensuremath{\approx}\mathbf{0}$ states, while the linear polarization dynamics is characterized first by a fast drop to negative or zero values immediately after the excitation pulse, followed by weak-amplitude nonperiodic oscillations. The latter are interpreted as the manifestation of the pseudospin precession of the pumped polariton modes around the self-induced exchange effective field.
We study the dynamics of exciton polaritons in a double-well configuration. The system consists of two weakly coupled Bose-Josephson junctions, each corresponding to a different circular polarization of the polaritons, forming a Josephson double dimer. We show that the Josephson oscillation between the wells is strongly coupled to the polarization rotation and that, consequently, Josephson excitation is periodically exchanged between the two polarizations. Linearized analysis agrees well with numerical simulations using typical experimental parameters.
Investigations of quantum effects in semiconductor quantum-well microcavities interacting with laser light in the strong-coupling regime are presented. Modifications of quantum fluctuations of the outgoing light are expected due to the non-linearity originating from coherent exciton–exciton scattering. In the strong-coupling regime, this scattering translates into a four-wave mixing interaction between the mixed exciton–photon states, the polaritons. Squeezing and giant amplification of the polariton field and of the outgoing light field fluctuations are predicted. However, polariton–phonon scattering is shown to yield excess noise in the output field, which may destroy the non-classical effects. Experiments demonstrate evidence for giant amplification due to coherent four-wave mixing of polaritons. Noise reduction below the thermal noise level was also observed.
We study the relaxation dynamics of spin-polarized exciton-polaritons using a technique in a pump-probe configuration: According to their total angular momentum, exciton-polaritons can be excited by circularly polarized light of either σ+ or σ− helicities. In addition, a bound state of two excitons may exist to which the transition is only allowed when using two photons of opposite helicities. After excitation by a pump pulse of σ+ helicity, additional polaritons from a probe pulse of σ− helicity may be absorbed to excite biexcitons, while absorption of those with σ+ helicity becomes possible only after a spin-flip process. It is characterized by a time-constant τs, which can be determined by a time-resolved study of the induced transmission changes at the exciton–biexciton transition. We demonstrate this method using bulk CuCl, in which the biexciton binding energy is large and in which effects due to polariton propagation can be nicely evidenced. We thus identify a spectral region where the spin-flip process is dominating, which is situated just below the polariton bottleneck.