Hydrodynamic nucleation of vortices and solitons in a resonantly excited polariton superfluid

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EDT 2011 · Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVB.83.144513· OSTI ID:21538281

Pigeon, S; Ciuti, C ^[1]; Carusotto, I ^[2]

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1. Laboratoire Materiaux et Phenomenes Quantiques, Universite Paris Diderot-Paris 7 and CNRS, UMR 7162, F-75205 Paris Cedex 13 (France)
2. INO-CNR BEC Center and Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita di Trento, I-38123 Povo (Italy)

We present a theoretical study of the hydrodynamic properties of exciton-polaritons in a semiconductor microcavity under a resonant laser excitation. The effect of a spatially extended defect on the superfluid flow is investigated as a function of the flow speed. The processes that are responsible for the nucleation of vortices and solitons in the wake of the defect are characterized, as well as the regimes where the superfluid flow remains unperturbed. Specific features due to the nonequilibrium nature of the polariton fluid are pointed out. For the present case of a resonant polariton excitation, an effective way to create, trap, and control arrays of vortices is proposed.

• OSTI ID: 21538281
• Journal Information: Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Journal Name: Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics Journal Issue: 14 Vol. 83; ISSN 1098-0121
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
DEFECTS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
FLUIDS
LASER RADIATION
MATERIALS
NUCLEATION
POLARONS
QUASI PARTICLES
RADIATIONS
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SIMULATION
SOLITONS
SUPERFLUIDITY
TRAPS
VELOCITY
VORTICES