arXiv subjects

P. S. Eldridge

Publications and source records attributed to P. S. Eldridge.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2015

Spin Selective Filtering of Polariton Condensate Flow

Spin-selective spatial filtering of propagating polariton condensates, using a controllable spin-dependent gating barrier, in a one-dimensional semiconductor microcavity ridge waveguide is reported. A nonresonant laser beam provides the source of propagating polaritons while a second circularly polarized weak beam imprints a spin dependent potential barrier, which gates the polariton flow and generates polariton spin currents. A complete spin-based control over the blocked and transmitted polaritons is obtained by varying the gate polarization.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

Optical control of spin textures in quasi-one-dimensional polariton condensates

We investigate, through polarization-resolved spectroscopy, the spin transport by propagating polariton condensates in a quasi one-dimensional microcavity ridge along macroscopic distances. Under circularly polarized, continuous-wave, non-resonant excitation, a sinusoidal precession of the spin in real space is observed, whose phase depends on the emission energy. The experiments are compared with simulations of the spinor-polariton condensate dynamics based on a generalized Gross-Pitaevskii equation, modified to account for incoherent pumping, decay and energy relaxation within the condensate.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Quantum coherence in momentum space of light-matter condensates

We show that the use of momentum-space optical interferometry, which avoids any spatial overlap between two parts of a macroscopic quantum state, presents a unique way to study coherence phenomena in polariton condensates. In this way, we address the longstanding question in quantum mechanics: "\emph{Do two components of a condensate, which have never seen each other, possess a definitive phase?}" [P. W. Anderson, \emph{Basic Notions of Condensed Matter Physics} (Benjamin, 1984)]. A positive answer to this question is experimentally obtained here for light-matter condensates, created under precise symmetry conditions, in semiconductor microcavities taking advantage of the direct relation between the angle of emission and the in-plane momentum of polaritons.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Operation speed of polariton condensate switches gated by excitons

We present a time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) study in real- and momentum-space of a polariton condensate switch in a quasi-1D semiconductor microcavity. The polariton flow across the ridge is gated by excitons inducing a barrier potential due to repulsive interactions. A study of the device operation dependence on the power of the pulsed gate beam obtains a satisfactory compromise for the ON/OFF-signal ratio and -switching time of the order of 0.3 and $\thicksim50$ ps, respectively. The opposite transition is governed by the long-lived gate excitons, consequently the OFF/ON-switching time is $\thicksim200$ ps, limiting the overall operation speed of the device to $\thicksim3$ GHz. The experimental results are compared to numerical simulations based on a generalized Gross-Pitaevskii equation, taking into account incoherent pumping, decay and energy relaxation within the condensate.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

Quantum reflections and the shunting of polariton condensate wave trains: implementation of a logic AND gate

We study the dynamics of polariton condensate wave trains that propagate along a quasi one-dimensional waveguide. Through the application of tuneable potential barriers the propagation can be reflected and multiple reflections used to confine and store a propagating state. Energy-relaxation processes allow the delayed relaxation into a long-living coherent ground state. Aside the potential routing of polariton condensate signals, the system forms an AND-type logic gate compatible with incoherent inputs.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

Energy relaxation of exciton-polariton condensates in quasi-1D microcavities

We present a time-resolved study of energy relaxation and trapping dynamics of polariton condensates in a semiconductor microcavity ridge. The combination of two non-resonant, pulsed laser sources in a GaAs ridge-shaped microcavity gives rise to profuse quantum phenomena where the repulsive potentials created by the lasers allow the modulation and control of the polariton flow. We analyze in detail the dependence of the dynamics on the power of both lasers and determine the optimum conditions for realizing an all-optical polariton condensate transistor switch. The experimental results are interpreted in the light of simulations based on a generalized Gross-Pitaevskii equation, including incoherent pumping, decay and energy relaxation within the condensate.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2012

Dynamics of a polariton condensate transistor switch

We present a time-resolved study of the logical operation of a polariton condensate transistor switch. Creating a polariton condensate (source) in a GaAs ridge-shaped microcavity with a non-resonant pulsed laser beam, the polariton propagation towards a collector, at the ridge edge, is controlled by a second weak pulse (gate), located between the source and the collector. The experimental results are interpreted in the light of simulations based on the generalized Gross-Pitaevskii equation, including incoherent pumping, decay and energy relaxation within the condensate.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2012

Polariton Condensate Transistor Switch

A polariton condensate transistor switch is realized through optical excitation of a microcavity ridge with two beams. The ballistically ejected polaritons from a condensate formed at the source are gated using the 20 times weaker second beam to switch on and off the flux of polaritons. In the absence of the gate beam the small built-in detuning creates potential landscape in which ejected polaritons are channelled toward the end of the ridge where they condense. The low loss photon-like propagation combined with strong nonlinearities associated with their excitonic component makes polariton based transistors particularly attractive for the implementation of all-optical integrated circuits.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2010

Spin-orbit fields in asymmetric (001) quantum wells

We measure simultaneously the in-plane electron g-factor and spin relaxation rate in a series of undoped inversion-asymmetric (001)-oriented GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells by spin-quantum beat spectroscopy. In combination the two quantities reveal the absolute values of both the Rashba and the Dresselhaus coefficients and prove that the Rashba coefficient can be negligibly small despite huge conduction band potential gradients which break the inversion symmetry. The negligible Rashba coefficient is a consequence of the 'isomorphism' of conduction and valence band potentials in quantum systems where the asymmetry is solely produced by alloy variations.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2008

Absence of the Rashba effect in undoped asymmetric quantum wells

To an electron moving in free space an electric field appears as a magnetic field which interacts with and can reorient the electron spin. In semiconductor quantum wells this spin-orbit interaction seems to offer the possibility of gate-voltage control in spintronic devices but, as the electrons are subject to both ion-core and macroscopic structural potentials, this over-simple picture has lead to intense debate. For example, an externally applied field acting on the envelope of the electron wavefunction determined by the macroscopic potential, underestimates the experimentally observed spin-orbit field by many orders of magnitude while the Ehrenfest theorem suggests that it should actually be zero. Here we challenge, both experimentally and theoretically, the widely held belief that any inversion asymmetry of the macroscopic potential, not only electric field, will produce a significant spin-orbit field for electrons. This conclusion has far-reaching consequences for the design of spintronic devices while illuminating important fundamental physics.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2007

Temperature Dependence of Rashba Spin-orbit Coupling in Quantum Wells

We perform an all-optical spin-dynamic measurement of the Rashba spin-orbit interaction in (110)-oriented GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells. The crystallographic direction of quantum confinement allows us to disentangle the contributions to spin-orbit coupling from the structural inversion asymmetry (Rashba term) and the bulk inversion asymmetry. We observe an unexpected temperature dependence of the Rashba spin-orbit interaction strength that signifies the importance of the usually neglected higher-order terms of the Rashba coupling.

cond-mat.other↗