arXiv subjects

A. J. Ramsay

Publications and source records attributed to A. J. Ramsay.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2021

Polarization dependent scattering in cavity optomagnonics

The polarization dependence of magnon-photon scattering in an optical microcavity is reported. Due to the short cavity length, the mode-matching conditions found in previously explored, large path-length whispering gallery resonators are absent. Nonetheless, for cross-polarized scattering a strong and broadband suppression of one side-band is observed. This arises due to an interference between the Faraday and second-order Cotton-Mouton effects. To fully account for the suppression of the cross-polarized scattering, it is necessary to consider the squeezing of magnon modes intrinsic to thin-film geometry. A co-polarized scattering due to Cotton-Mouton effect is also observed. In addition, the magnon modes involved are identified as Damon-Eshbach surface modes, whose non-reciprocal propagation could be exploited in devices applications. This work experimentally demonstrates the important role of second order Cotton-Mouton effect for optomagnonic devices.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Sub-pico-liter magneto-optical cavities

Microwave-to-optical conversion via ferromagnetic magnons has so-far been limited by the optical coupling rates achieved in mm-scale whispering gallery mode resonators. Towards overcoming this limitation, we propose and demonstrate an open magneto-optical cavity containing a thin-film of yttrium iron garnet (YIG). We achieve a 0.1 pL (100 $μ$m$^{3}$) optical mode volume, $\sim$50 times smaller than previous devices. From this, we estimate the magnon single-photon coupling rate is $G\approx50$ Hz. This open cavity design offers the prospect of wavelength scale mode volumes, small polarization splittings, and good magneto-optical mode overlap. With achievable further improvements and optimization, efficient microwave-optical conversion and magnon cooling devices become a realistic possibility.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Relaxation dynamics of spin 3/2 silicon vacancies in 4H-Silicon carbide

Room temperature optically detected magnetic resonance experiments on spin 3/2 Silicon vacancies in 4H-SiC are reported. The $m_s=+1/2\leftrightarrow -1/2$ transition is accessed using a two microwave frequency excitation protocol. The ratio of the Rabi frequencies of the $+3/2 \leftrightarrow +1/2$ and $+1/2\leftrightarrow -1/2$ transitions is measured to be $(0.901\pm 0.013)$. The deviation from $\sqrt{3}/2$ is attributed to small difference in g-factor for different magnetic dipole transitions. Whereas a spin-1/2 system is characterized by a single spin lifetime $T_1$, we experimentally demonstrate that the spin 3/2 system has three distinct relaxation modes that can be preferentially excited and detected. The measured relaxation times are $(0.41\pm 0.02) T_{slow}=T_d= (3.3\pm 0.5)T_{fast} $. This differs from the values of $ T_p/3 =T_d= 2T_f $ expected for pure dipole ($T_p$), quadrupole ($T_d$), and octupole ($T_f$) relaxation modes, respectively, and implies admixing of the slow dipole and fast octupole relaxation modes.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Phonon sidebands of color centers in hexagonal boron nitride

Low temperature photoluminescence spectra of a color center in hexagonal boron nitride are analyzed. The acoustic phonon sideband can be described by a deformation coupling proportional to strain to a phonon bath that is effectively two dimensional. The optical phonon band is described by Frohlich coupling to the LO-branches, and a deformation coupling proportional to lattice displacement for the TO-branch. The resonances expressed in the optical band vary from defect to defect, in some emitters, coupling to out-of-plane polarized phonons is reported.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Selection rules for cavity-enhanced Brillouin light scattering from magnetostatic modes

We experimentally identify the magnetostatic modes active for Brillouin light scattering in the optical whispering gallery modes of a yttrium iron garnet sphere. Each mode is identified by magnetic field dispersion of ferromagnetic-resonance spectroscopy and coupling strength to the known field distribution of the microwave drive antenna. Our optical measurements confirm recent predictions that higher-order magnetostatic modes can also generate optical scattering, according to the selection rules derived from the axial symmetry. From this we summarize the selection rules for Brillouin light scattering. We give experimental evidence that the optomagnonic coupling to non-uniform magnons can be higher than that of the uniform Kittel mode.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Synchronization crossover of polariton condensates in weakly disordered lattices

We demonstrate that the synchronization of a lattice of solid-state condensates when inter-site tunnelling is switched on, depends strongly on the weak local disorder. This finding is vital for implementation of condensate arrays as computation devices. The condensates here are nonlinear bosonic fluids of exciton-polaritons trapped in a weakly disordered Bose-Hubbard potential, where the nearest neighboring tunneling rate (Josephson coupling) can be dynamically tuned. The system can thus be tuned from a localized to a delocalized fluid as the number density, or the Josephson coupling between nearest neighbors increases. The localized fluid is observed as a lattice of unsynchronized condensates emitting at different energies set by the disorder potential. In the delocalized phase the condensates synchronize, and long-range order appears, evidenced by narrowing of momentum and energy distributions, new diffraction peaks in momentum space, and spatial coherence between condensates. Our work identifies similarities and differences of this nonequilibrium crossover to the traditional Bose-glass to superfluid transition in atomic condensates.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2018

Strain-assisted optomechanical coupling of polariton condensate spin to a micromechanical resonator

We report spin and intensity coupling of an exciton-polariton condensate to the mechanical vibrations of a circular membrane microcavity. We optically drive the microcavity resonator at the lowest mechanical resonance frequency while creating an optically-trapped spin-polarized polariton condensate in different locations on the microcavity, and observe spin and intensity oscillations of the condensate at the vibration frequency of the resonator. Spin oscillations are induced by vibrational strain driving, whilst the modulation of the optical trap due to the displacement of the membrane causes intensity oscillations in the condensate emission. Our results demonstrate spin-phonon coupling in a macroscopically coherent condensate.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Spin order and phase transitions in chains of polariton condensates

We demonstrate that multiply-coupled spinor polariton condensates can be optically tuned through a sequence of spin-ordered phases by changing the coupling strength between nearest neighbors. For closed 4-condensate chains these phases span from ferromagnetic (FM) to antiferromagnetic (AFM), separated by an unexpected crossover phase. This crossover phase is composed of alternating FM-AFM bonds. For larger 8 condensate chains, we show the critical role of spatial inhomogeneities and demonstrate a scheme to overcome them and prepare any desired spin state. Our observations thus demonstrate a fully controllable non-equilibrium spin lattice.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

A driven-dissipative spin chain model based on exciton-polariton condensates

An infinite chain of driven-dissipative condensate spins with uniform nearest-neighbor coherent coupling is solved analytically and investigated numerically. Above a critical occupation threshold the condensates undergo spontaneous spin bifurcation (becoming magnetized) forming a binary chain of spin-up or spin-down states. Minimization of the bifurcation threshold determines the magnetic order as a function of the coupling strength. This allows control of multiple magnetic orders via adiabatic (slow ramping of) pumping. In addition to ferromagnetic and anti-ferromagnetic ordered states we show the formation of a paired-spin ordered state $\left|\dots \uparrow \uparrow \downarrow \downarrow \dots \right. \rangle$ as a consequence of the phase degree of freedom between condensates.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2016

Triple-resonant Brillouin light scattering in magneto-optical cavities

An enhancement in Brillouin light scattering of optical photons with magnons is demonstrated in magneto-optical whispering gallery mode resonators tuned to a triple resonance point. This occurs when both the input and output optical modes are resonant with those of the whispering gallery resonator, with a separation given by the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) frequency. The identification and excitation of specific optical modes allows us to gain a clear understanding of the mode-matching conditions. A selection rule due to wavevector matching leads to an intrinsic single-sideband excitation. Strong suppression of one sideband is essential for one-to-one frequency mapping in coherent optical-to-microwave conversion.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2016

Dynamic vibronic coupling in InGaAs quantum dots

The electron-phonon coupling in self-assembled InGaAs quantum dots is relatively weak at low light intensities, which means that the zero-phonon line in emission is strong compared to the phonon sideband. However, the coupling to acoustic phonons can be dynamically enhanced in the presence of an intense optical pulse tuned within the phonon sideband. Recent experiments have shown that this dynamic vibronic coupling can enable population inversion to be achieved when pumping with a blue-shifted laser and for rapid de-excitation of an inverted state with red detuning. In this paper we confirm the incoherent nature of the phonon-assisted pumping process and explore the temperature dependence of the mechanism. We also show that a combination of blue- and red-shifted pulses can create and destroy an exciton within a timescale ~20 ps determined by the pulse duration and ultimately limited by the phonon thermalisation time.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Passive stabilization of hole spin qubit using optical Stark effect

The extrinsic dephasing of a hole spin confined to a self-assembled quantum dot is dominated by charge noise acting on an electric-field dependent g-factor. Here we propose the use of the optical Stark effect to reduce the sensitivity of the effective hole Zeeman energy to fluctuations in the local electric-field. Calculations using measured quantum dot parameters are presented, and demonstrate a factor of 10-100 reduction in the extrinsic dephasing. Compared to active stabilization methods, this technique should benefit from reduced experimental complexity.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

Magneto-optical coupling in whispering gallery mode resonators

We demonstrate that yttrium iron garnet microspheres support optical whispering gallery modes similar to those in non-magnetic dielectric materials. The direction of the ferromagnetic moment tunes both the resonant frequency via the Voigt effect as well as the degree of polarization rotation via the Faraday effect. An understanding of the magneto-optical coupling in whispering gallery modes, where the propagation direction rotates with respect to the magnetization, is fundamental to the emerging field of cavity optomagnonics.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

Optical spin transfer torque driven domain wall motion in ferromagnetic semiconductor

We demonstrate optical manipulation of the position of a domain wall in a dilute magnetic semiconductor, GaMnAsP. Two main contributions are identified. Firstly, photocarrier spin exerts a spin transfer torque on the magnetization via the exchange interaction. The direction of the domain wall motion can be controlled using the helicity of the laser. Secondly, the domain wall is attracted to the hot-spot generated by the focused laser. Unlike magnetic field driven domain wall depinning, these mechanisms directly drive domain wall motion, providing an optical tweezer like ability to position and locally probe domain walls.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Phonon-assisted population inversion of a single quantum dot

We demonstrate an approach to realize the population inversion of a single InGaAs/GaAs quantum dot, which is driven by a laser pulse tuned within the neutral exciton phonon sideband. The inversion is achieved by rapid thermalization of the optically dressed states via phonon-assisted relaxation. A maximum exciton population of 0.67 $\pm$ 0.06 is measured for a laser tuned 0.83 meV to higher energy and the phonon sideband is mapped using a two-color pump-probe technique. Our experiments reveal that, in accordance with theory, the phonon-bath provides additional functionality for an optically driven quantum dot qubit.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

Enhanced photocurrent readout for a quantum dot qubit by bias modulation

We demonstrate coherent control of a quantum dot exciton using photocurrent detection with a sinusoidal reverse bias. Optical control is performed at low bias, where tunneling-limited coherence times are long. Following this step, the tunneling rates are increased to remove the long-lived hole, achieving a high photocurrent signal. For a detection efficiency of 68%, electron and hole tunneling times during optical control of 200 ps and 20 ns can be achieved, compared to 120 ps and 7 ns for the constant bias case, respectively.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2012

Fast preparation of single hole spin in InAs/GaAs quantum dot in Voigt geometry magnetic field

The preparation of a coherent heavy-hole spin via ionization of a spin-polarized electron-hole pair in an InAs/GaAs quantum dot in a Voigt geometry magnetic field is investigated. For a dot with a 17 ueV bright-exciton fine-structure splitting, the fidelity of the spin preparation is limited to 0.75, with optimum preparation occurring when the effective fine-structure of the bright-exciton matches the in-plane hole Zeeman energy. In principle, higher fidelities can be achieved by minimizing the bright-exciton fine-structure splitting.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2012

Coherent optical control of the spin of a single hole in a quantum dot

We demonstrate coherent optical control of a single hole spin confined to an InAs/GaAs quantum dot. A superposition of hole spin states is created by fast (10-100 ps) dissociation of a spin-polarized electron-hole pair. Full control of the hole-spin is achieved by combining coherent rotations about two axes: Larmor precession of the hole-spin about an external Voigt geometry magnetic field, and rotation about the optical-axis due to the geometric phase shift induced by a picosecond laser pulse resonant with the hole-trion transition.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗