arXiv · 1705.09752
Chiral modes at exceptional points in exciton-polariton quantum fluids
Abstract
We demonstrate generation of chiral modes -- vortex flows with fixed handedness in exciton-polariton quantum fluids. The chiral modes arise in the vicinity of exceptional points (non-Hermitian spectral degeneracies) in an optically-induced resonator for exciton polaritons. In particular, a vortex is generated by driving two dipole modes of the non-Hermitian ring resonator into degeneracy. Transition through the exceptional point in the space of the system's parameters is enabled by precise manipulation of real and imaginary parts of the closed-wall potential forming the resonator. As the system is driven to the vicinity of the exceptional point, we observe the formation of a vortex state with a fixed orbital angular momentum (topological charge). Our method can be extended to generate high-order orbital angular momentum states through coalescence of multiple non-Hermitian spectral degeneracies, which could find application in integrated optoelectronics.
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T. Gao, G. Li, E. Estrecho, T. C. H. Liew, D. Comber-Todd, A. Nalitov, M. Steger, K. West, L. Pfeiffer, D. Snoke, A. V. Kavokin, A. G. Truscott, E. A. Ostrovskaya. 2017-05-27. Chiral modes at exceptional points in exciton-polariton quantum fluids. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.120.065301
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