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

Cambridge University Press eBooks

Bose–Einstein Condensation of Excitonic Particles in Semiconductors

A. Mysyrowicz

Published Apr 6, 1995• 4 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The case of excitons as candidates for Bose–Einstein condensation is discussed, and experimental results in CuCl and Cu 2 O are presented. In CuCl, spectral analysis of the luminescence from biexcitons as a function of their density reveals a gradual evolution from classical statistics towards a quantum degenerate regime. The appearance of a sharp emission line below a critical temperature and above a critical density is attributed to the presence of a laser-induced Bose–Einstein condensate of excitonic molecules. This interpretation is supported by pump-probe experiments which show that additional particles injected in the presence of a biexciton condensate are drawn into it. In Cu 2 O, free exciton luminescence spectral analysis of ortho- and paraexcitons reveals a gradual evolution from a classical to a Bose quantum degenerate regime with increasing particle densities. Orthoexciton densities close to the critical density for condensation are obtained at high incoherent excitation. Under similar pumping, paraexciton densities exceeding the critical value are inferred from luminescence intensity ratios. Anomalous transport properties of paraexcitons, such as ballistic propagation over macroscopic distances and formation of soliton-like excitonic packets are discussed as evidence for excitonic superfluidity. Introduction Excitons The lowest electronically excited state of a non-metallic crystal corresponds to the promotion of one electron from the top of the highest fully occupied valence band to the bottom of the next empty conduction band. A correct evaluation of the required energy must include the Coulomb correlation between the promoted electron and all other electrons left behind in the valence band.

DOI
10.1017/cbo9780511524240.016

Related papers

Evidence for Bose-Einstein condensation of excitons in Cu2 O

David W. Snoke, James P. Wolfe, A. Mysyrowicz

Pulsed-laser excitation of naturally grown crystals of ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}$O produces a dense gas of excitons, which exhibits Bose-Einstein quantum statistics. Both orthoexcitons and paraexcitons, split by a 12-meV electron-hole exchange energy, are formed. At high excitation levels, the time-resolved luminescence of orthoexcitons yields a density-temperature relation that follows the phase boundary for Bose-Einstein condensation, n=${\mathit{CT}}^{3/2}$, but no striking evidence for a condensed fraction is observed. We have now measured the time-resolved spectrum of the lower-lying paraexcitons whose luminescence is 1500 times weaker than the orthoexciton luminescence. At intermediate power levels, the paraexciton distribution is more degenerate than the orthoexcitons. The relative intensities of the two species indicate that at high excitation levels the paraexciton density exceeds the critical density for condensation. At these high densities the paraexciton spectrum develops a structure that cannot be explained in terms of the thermalized Bose-Einstein distribution. Time-resolved spatial measurements of the luminescence indicate a rapid nondiffusive expansion of the gas at supersonic velocities that approach the expected ballistic velocities of the excitons. The rapid transport and the concurrent changes in the spectral distribution of paraexcitons may be the first observation of excitonic Bose-Einstein condensation and superfluidity.

Physical review. B, Condensed matter•Jun 1, 1990•122 citations

Bose-Einstein statistical properties and condensation of excitonic molecules in CuCl

Nasser N. Peyghambarian, Lloyd L. Chase, A. Mysyrowicz

A comprehensive investigation of the optical properties of excitonic molecules in CuCl films is presented and discussed. The experimental work includes resonant two-photon absorption (TPA), observations of the resonantly excited biexciton emission, and optical pump-and-probe studies. The collision broadening of the TPA implies a collision rate \ensuremath{\sim}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}12}$ sec for the biexcitons, which is sufficiently rapid to establish a quasithermal equilibrium for the particles on a time scale that is short in comparison with the biexciton lifetime and the duration of the laser pump pulse. The biexciton luminescence line shapes obtained with resonant $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{k}}=0$ two-photon excitation have been fitted using a Bose-Einstein thermal distribution of biexcitons. The chemical potential obtained from the fits goes to zero as the biexciton density is increased at a fixed lattice temperature or if the lattice temperature is decreased at fixed density. The sharp luminescence features that are observed at high densities and low temperatures with single-beam, two-photon excitation are interpreted as resulting from a Bose-Einstein---condensed state of the biexcitons at twice the wave vector of the laser pumping photons. Further evidence for a condensed state is obtained from optical-probe measurements in which a small number of probe biexcitons is injected into the sample, with and without the presence of a condensed state produced by an intense laser pump beam. The luminescence of these injected probe biexcitons is modified in the presence of the pump beam such that it exhibits the sharp features of the emission from the condensed state. Measurements of optical gain and stimulated emission in the presence of the pump beam show that the redistribution of the probe luminescence does not result from those processes, but must involve a preferential redistribution of the probe particles in momentum space via collisions. Such a redistribution is expected when additional particles are added to a condensed system of bosons.

Physical review. B, Condensed matter•Feb 15, 1983•81 citations

EXCITONS AS A NEW QUANTUM SYSTEM

A. Mysyrowicz

In a first part, a brief review of some excitonic properties is presented, with the accent put on their relevance with respect to the possibility of Bose-Einstein condensation. In a second part, recent experimental evidence is described, which supports the idea that excitonic particles may form a highly quantum fluid. In Cu20, the analysis of the exciton decay spectrum shows a gradual evolution of the gas from a classical regime at low densities up to a strongly degenerate one at high densities, with a chemical potential µ ~ 0. In CuCl excitons are unstable against formation of molecules (biexcitons). It is possible to generate directly a high density gas of biexcitons with momentum K ~ 0 by giant two-photon absorption. At low excitation, the observed molecular emission is in agreement with Maxwell -Boltzmann statistics. At high densities, strong deviations occur. In particular, the appearance of a sharp emission line is attributed to the presence of a Bose-Einstein condensate of excitonic molecules.

Le Journal de Physique Colloques•Jul 1, 1980•11 citations

Experiments on excitons in bulk semiconductors

Makoto Kuwata‐Gonokami

Abstract This chapter begins with a discussion of excitonic matter in semiconductors. It then describes experimental methods for generating highly degenerate excitonic particles by using energy- and momentum-selective optical excitation processes for biexcitons in CuCl and orthoexcitons in Cu2O. Phase-sensitive interference of particles demonstrates the macroscopic coherence of such ensembles of cold particles prepared in the quantum degenerate regime. This is followed by a discussion of the search for spontaneous Bose–Einstein condensation of excitons in a bulk crystal of Cu2O.

Oxford University Press eBooks•Feb 28, 2013•0 citations

Radiationless Stimulated Exciton Emission

E. Benson, Emery Fortin, A. Mysyrowicz

Experiments investigating the process of Bose-Einstein condensation of excitons in Cu2O will be reviewed. The exciton flux reaching the back surface of mm thick single crystals is investigated following creation of a high density of excitons close to the front surface with a pulsed laser. An anomalous propagation regime is observed at. sufficiently low crystal temperatures and sufficiently high particle densities, in the form of a ballistic packet progressing at a velocity close to the crystal sound velocity. The ballistic packet is attributed to an excitonic superfluid, the result of a Bose-Einstein Condensation (BEC). Conditions for appearance of the ballistic excitonic transport are found to be in good agreement with the predictions of the weakly interacting Bose gas model.

Quantum Optoelectronics•Jan 1, 1997•0 citations

Evidence for Bose-Einstein condensation of a two-component exciton gas

David W. Snoke, James P. Wolfe, A. Mysyrowicz

Time-resolved spectral and spatial measurements of photoluminescence in ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}$O at low temperatures suggest that the gas of paraexcitons undergoes Bose-Einstein condensation at high densities. As a result of the two-component nature of the gas (orthoexcitons and paraexcitons with different ground-state energies and spin multiplicities) and the nonequilibrium nature of photoproduced excitons, the condensation process is quite different from the simple ideal-gas case envisioned by Einstein.

Physical Review Letters•May 21, 1990•110 citations
The case of excitons as candidates for Bose–Einstein condensation is discussed, and experimental results in CuCl and Cu 2 O are presented. In CuCl, spectral analysis of the luminescence from biexcitons as a function of their density reveals a gradual evolution from classical statistics towards a quantum degenerate regime. The appearance of a sharp emission line below a critical temperature and above a critical density is attributed to the presence of a laser-induced Bose–Einstein condensate of excitonic molecules. This interpretation is supported by pump-probe experiments which show that additional particles injected in the presence of a biexciton condensate are drawn into it. In Cu 2 O, free exciton luminescence spectral analysis of ortho- and paraexcitons reveals a gradual evolution from a classical to a Bose quantum degenerate regime with increasing particle densities. Orthoexciton densities close to the critical density for condensation are obtained at high incoherent excitation. Under similar pumping, paraexciton densities exceeding the critical value are inferred from luminescence intensity ratios. Anomalous transport properties of paraexcitons, such as ballistic propagation over macroscopic distances and formation of soliton-like excitonic packets are discussed as evidence for excitonic superfluidity. Introduction Excitons The lowest electronically excited state of a non-metallic crystal corresponds to the promotion of one electron from the top of the highest fully occupied valence band to the bottom of the next empty conduction band. A correct evaluation of the required energy must include the Coulomb correlation between the promoted electron and all other electrons left behind in the valence band.
Pulsed-laser excitation of naturally grown crystals of Cu2{\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}Cu2​O produces a dense gas of excitons, which exhibits Bose-Einstein quantum statistics. Both orthoexcitons and paraexcitons, split by a 12-meV electron-hole exchange energy, are formed. At high excitation levels, the time-resolved luminescence of orthoexcitons yields a density-temperature relation that follows the phase boundary for Bose-Einstein condensation, n=CT3/2{\mathit{CT}}^{3/2}CT3/2, but no striking evidence for a condensed fraction is observed. We have now measured the time-resolved spectrum of the lower-lying paraexcitons whose luminescence is 1500 times weaker than the orthoexciton luminescence. At intermediate power levels, the paraexciton distribution is more degenerate than the orthoexcitons. The relative intensities of the two species indicate that at high excitation levels the paraexciton density exceeds the critical density for condensation. At these high densities the paraexciton spectrum develops a structure that cannot be explained in terms of the thermalized Bose-Einstein distribution. Time-resolved spatial measurements of the luminescence indicate a rapid nondiffusive expansion of the gas at supersonic velocities that approach the expected ballistic velocities of the excitons. The rapid transport and the concurrent changes in the spectral distribution of paraexcitons may be the first observation of excitonic Bose-Einstein condensation and superfluidity.
A comprehensive investigation of the optical properties of excitonic molecules in CuCl films is presented and discussed. The experimental work includes resonant two-photon absorption (TPA), observations of the resonantly excited biexciton emission, and optical pump-and-probe studies. The collision broadening of the TPA implies a collision rate \ensuremath{\sim}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}12}$ sec for the biexcitons, which is sufficiently rapid to establish a quasithermal equilibrium for the particles on a time scale that is short in comparison with the biexciton lifetime and the duration of the laser pump pulse. The biexciton luminescence line shapes obtained with resonant $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{k}}=0$ two-photon excitation have been fitted using a Bose-Einstein thermal distribution of biexcitons. The chemical potential obtained from the fits goes to zero as the biexciton density is increased at a fixed lattice temperature or if the lattice temperature is decreased at fixed density. The sharp luminescence features that are observed at high densities and low temperatures with single-beam, two-photon excitation are interpreted as resulting from a Bose-Einstein---condensed state of the biexcitons at twice the wave vector of the laser pumping photons. Further evidence for a condensed state is obtained from optical-probe measurements in which a small number of probe biexcitons is injected into the sample, with and without the presence of a condensed state produced by an intense laser pump beam. The luminescence of these injected probe biexcitons is modified in the presence of the pump beam such that it exhibits the sharp features of the emission from the condensed state. Measurements of optical gain and stimulated emission in the presence of the pump beam show that the redistribution of the probe luminescence does not result from those processes, but must involve a preferential redistribution of the probe particles in momentum space via collisions. Such a redistribution is expected when additional particles are added to a condensed system of bosons.
In a first part, a brief review of some excitonic properties is presented, with the accent put on their relevance with respect to the possibility of Bose-Einstein condensation. In a second part, recent experimental evidence is described, which supports the idea that excitonic particles may form a highly quantum fluid. In Cu20, the analysis of the exciton decay spectrum shows a gradual evolution of the gas from a classical regime at low densities up to a strongly degenerate one at high densities, with a chemical potential µ ~ 0. In CuCl excitons are unstable against formation of molecules (biexcitons). It is possible to generate directly a high density gas of biexcitons with momentum K ~ 0 by giant two-photon absorption. At low excitation, the observed molecular emission is in agreement with Maxwell -Boltzmann statistics. At high densities, strong deviations occur. In particular, the appearance of a sharp emission line is attributed to the presence of a Bose-Einstein condensate of excitonic molecules.
Abstract This chapter begins with a discussion of excitonic matter in semiconductors. It then describes experimental methods for generating highly degenerate excitonic particles by using energy- and momentum-selective optical excitation processes for biexcitons in CuCl and orthoexcitons in Cu2O. Phase-sensitive interference of particles demonstrates the macroscopic coherence of such ensembles of cold particles prepared in the quantum degenerate regime. This is followed by a discussion of the search for spontaneous Bose–Einstein condensation of excitons in a bulk crystal of Cu2O.
Experiments investigating the process of Bose-Einstein condensation of excitons in Cu2O will be reviewed. The exciton flux reaching the back surface of mm thick single crystals is investigated following creation of a high density of excitons close to the front surface with a pulsed laser. An anomalous propagation regime is observed at. sufficiently low crystal temperatures and sufficiently high particle densities, in the form of a ballistic packet progressing at a velocity close to the crystal sound velocity. The ballistic packet is attributed to an excitonic superfluid, the result of a Bose-Einstein Condensation (BEC). Conditions for appearance of the ballistic excitonic transport are found to be in good agreement with the predictions of the weakly interacting Bose gas model.
Time-resolved spectral and spatial measurements of photoluminescence in Cu2{\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}Cu2​O at low temperatures suggest that the gas of paraexcitons undergoes Bose-Einstein condensation at high densities. As a result of the two-component nature of the gas (orthoexcitons and paraexcitons with different ground-state energies and spin multiplicities) and the nonequilibrium nature of photoproduced excitons, the condensation process is quite different from the simple ideal-gas case envisioned by Einstein.