arXiv subjects

Rolf Binder

Publications and source records attributed to Rolf Binder.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Skyrmions in scalar fields of non-Hermitian optical microcavities: spontaneous formation, nonlinear control, and optical forces

Topological textures of light offer powerful routes for structuring optical fields, controlling wave transport, and manipulating matter. Skyrmions, long studied as topological solitons in vector fields, have recently been extended to scalar wave systems, including acoustics, hydrodynamics, and plasmonics. However, their realization in two-dimensional scalar wave propagation with nonlinearities and in quantum fluids remains uncharted. Here, we establish such a Skyrmion framework for scalar fields in optical microcavities. With focus on exciton-polaritons, we show that nonresonant excitation without imposed phase can spontaneously generate isolated Skyrmions and self-organized Skyrmion lattices in a polariton condensate. We trace this mechanism to gain- and loss-induced phase curvature together with outward polariton flow. We further demonstrate that polariton nonlinearities provide all-optical control of these textures, enabling switching of the Skyrmion number and reconfiguration of Skyrmion moir\'e lattices through resonant and nonresonant excitation schemes. These results establish nonlinear non-Hermitian resonators as a versatile platform for the spontaneous generation and active control of scalar topological light fields.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

Exceptional rings in nonlinear non-Hermitian planar optical microcavities: implementation, signal enhancement, and topology

Non-Hermitian systems hosting exceptional points (EPs) exhibit signal enhancement and unconventional mode dynamics. Going beyond isolated EPs, here we report on the existence of exceptional rings (ERs) in planar optical resonators with specific form of circular dichroism and TE-TM splitting. Such exceptional rings possess intriguing topologies as discussed earlier for condensed matter systems, but they remain virtually unexplored in presence of nonlinearity, for which our photonic platform is ideal. We find that when Kerr-type nonlinearity (or saturable gain) is introduced, the linear ER splits into two concentric ERs, with the larger-radius ring being a ring of third-order EPs. Transitioning from linear to nonlinear regime, we present a rigorous analysis of (spectral and band) topologies and report enhanced and adjustable perturbation response in the nonlinear regime. Whereas certain features are specific to our system, the results on non-Hermitian topologies and nonlinearity-enhanced perturbation response are generic and equally relevant to a broad class of other nonlinear non-Hermitian systems, providing a universal framework for engineering ERs and EPs in nonlinear non-Hermitian systems.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2023

Collective terahertz fluctuation modes in a polariton laser

A polariton Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) state in a semiconductor microcavity is an example of symmetry-broken states in open systems. Fluctuations of the order parameter are an important tool to characterize such a state. With the condensate formed by composite particles, the set of zero-momentum fluctuations spans an infinite-dimensional electron-hole mode subspace. We show that collective fluctuation modes with orbital angular momentum different from that of the order parameter can be obtained with terahertz radiation, and that a physical manifestation of such modes, which are not Higgs modes, can be terahertz gain.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Strain Induced Indirect-to-Direct Bandgap Transition, Photoluminescence Enhancement, and Linewidth Reduction in Bilayer MoTe2

Two-dimensional (2D) layered materials provide an ideal platform for engineering electronic and optical properties through strain control because of their extremely high mechanical elasticity and sensitive dependence of material properties on mechanical strain. In this paper, a combined experimental and theoretical effort is made to investigate the effects of mechanical strain on various spectral features of bilayer MoTe2 photoluminescence (PL). We found that bilayer MoTe2 can be converted from an indirect-to direct-bandgap material through strain engineering, resulting in a photoluminescence enhancement by a factor of 2.24. Over 90% of the PL comes from photons emitted by the direct excitons at the maximum strain applied. Importantly, we show that strain effects lead to a reduction of the overall linewidth of PL by as much as 36.6%. We attribute the dramatic decrease of linewidth to a strain-induced complex interplay among various excitonic varieties such as direct bright excitons, trions, and indirect excitons. Our experimental results on direct and indirect exciton emission features are explained by theoretical exciton energies that are based on first-principle electronic band structure calculations. The consistent theory-experimental trend shows that the enhancement of PL and the reduction of linewidth are the consequences of the increasing direct exciton contribution with the increase of strain. Our results demonstrate that strain engineering can lead to a PL quality of the bilayer MoTe2 comparable to that of the monolayer counterpart. The additional benefit of a longer emission wavelength makes the bilayer MoTe2 more suitable for Silicon-photonics integration due to the reduced Silicon absorption.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Effect of intravalley and intervalley electron-hole exchange on the nonlinear optical response of monolayer MoSe$_2$

The coherent third-order nonlinear response of monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMD) semiconductors, such as MoSe$_2$ is dominated by the nonlinear exciton response, as well as biexciton and trion resonances. The fact that these resonances may be spectrally close together makes identification of the signatures, for example in differential transmission (DT), challenging. Instead of focusing on explaining a given set of experimental data, a systematic study aimed at elucidating the roles of intravalley and intervalley electron-hole (e-h) exchange on the DT spectra is presented. Previous works have shown that the e-h exchange introduces a linear leading-order term in the exciton dispersion. Based on a generalized Lippmann-Schwinger equation, we show that the presence of this linear dispersion term can reduce the biexciton binding energy to zero, contrary to the conventional situation of quadratic dispersion where an arbitrarily weak (well-behaved) attractive interaction always supports bound state(s). The effects of spin-scattering and the spin-orbit interaction caused by e-h exchange is also clarified, and the DT lineshape at the exciton and trion resonance are studied as a function of e-h exchange strength. In particular, as the exciton lineshape is determined by the interplay of linear exciton susceptibility and the bound-state two-exciton resonance in the T-matrix, the lineshape at the trion is similarly determined by the interplay of the linear trion susceptibility and the bound-state exciton-trion resonance in the T-matrix.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Steady-state nonlinear optical response of excitons in monolayer MoSe$_2$

Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) semiconductors such as MoSe$_2$ host strongly bound excitons which are known to exhibit a strong resonant third-order nonlinear response. Although there have been numerous studies of the ultrafast nonlinear response of monolayer TMDs, a study of the steady-state nonlinear response is lacking. We report a comprehensive study of the steady-state two-color nonlinear response of excitons in hBN-encapsulated monolayer MoSe$_2$ at 7 K. We observe differential transmission (DT) signals associated with the neutral and charged exciton species, which is strongly dependent on the polarization of the pump and probe. Our results are compared to a theoretical model based on a T-matrix formulation for exciton-exciton, exciton-trion, and trion-trion correlations. The parameters are chosen such that the theory accurately reproduces the experimental DT spectrum, which is found to be dominated by two-exciton correlations without strong biexciton binding, exciton-trion attractive interactions, and strong spin mixing through incoherent relaxation.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Terahertz Spectroscopy of Semiconductor Microcavity Lasers I: Photon Lasers

Semiconductor microcavities can exhibit various macroscopic quantum phenomena, including Bose-Einstein condensation of polaritons, Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) states of polaritons, and photon lasing (lasing with negligible Coulombic exciton effects). An important aspect of possible experimental identification of these states is a gap in the excitation spectrum (the BCS gap in the case of a polaritonic BCS state). Similar to the polaritonic BCS gap, a light-induced gap can exist in photon lasers. Although polaritonic BCS states have been observed on the basis of spectroscopy in the vicinity of the laser frequency, the direct observation of polaritonic BCS gaps using light spectrally centered at or around the emission frequency has not been achieved. It has been conjectured that low-frequency (terahertz) spectroscopy should be able to identify such gaps. In this first of two studies, a theory aimed at identifying features of light-induced gaps in the linear terahertz spectroscopy of photon lasers is developed and numerically evaluated. It is shown that spectral features in the intraband conductivity, and therefore in the system's transmissivity and absorptivity can be related to the light-induced gap. For sufficiently small Drude damping this includes spectral regions of THz gain. A future study will generalize the present formalism to include Coulomb effects.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2021

Polariton Laser in the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer Regime

Microcavity exciton polariton systems can have a wide range of macroscopic quantum effects that may be turned into better photonic technologies. Polariton Bose-Einstein condensation and photon lasing have been widely accepted in the limits of low and high carrier densities, but identification of the expected Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) state at intermediate densities remains elusive, as the optical-gain mechanism cannot be directly inferred from existing experiments. Here, using a microcavity with strong polarization selectivity, we gain direct experimental access to the reservoir absorption in the presence of polariton condensation and lasing, which reveals a fermionic gain mechanism underlying the polariton laser. A microscopic many-particle theory shows that this polariton lasing state is consistent with an open-dissipative-pumped system analog of a polaritonic BCS state.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

All-optical beam steering using the polariton lighthouse effect

We demonstrate theoretically and experimentally that a specifically designed microcavity driven in the optical parametric oscillation regime exhibits lighthouse-like emission, i.e., an emission focused around a single direction. Remarkably, the emission direction of this micro-lighthouse is continuously controlled by the linear polarization of the incident laser, and angular beam steering over \unit{360}{\degree} is demonstrated. Theoretically, this unprecedented effect arises from the interplay between the nonlinear optical response of microcavity exciton-polaritons, the difference in the subcavities forming the microcavity, and the rotational invariance of the device.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2019

2D Semiconductor Nonlinear Plasmonic Modulators

A plasmonic modulator is a device that controls the amplitude or phase of propagating plasmons. In a pure plasmonic modulator, the presence or absence of a pump plasmonic wave controls the amplitude of a probe plasmonic wave through a channel. This control has to be mediated by an interaction between disparate plasmonic waves, typically requiring the integration of a nonlinear material. In this work, we demonstrate the first 2D semiconductor nonlinear plasmonic modulator based on a WSe2 monolayer integrated on top of a lithographically defined metallic waveguide. We utilize the strong coupling between the surface plasmon polaritons, SPPs, and excitons in the WSe2 to give a 73 percent change in transmission through the device. We demonstrate control of the propagating SPPs using both optical and SPP pumps, realizing the first demonstration of a 2D semiconductor nonlinear plasmonic modulator, with a modulation depth of 4.1 percent, and an ultralow switching energy estimated to be 40 aJ.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2018

Simulation of Hot-Carrier Dynamics and Terahertz Emission in Laser-Excited Metallic Bilayers

Metallic bilayer structures have been shown to emit strong terahertz (THz) pulses. We present a predictive multiscale mode that simulates optically induced spin-currents in a Fe/Pt-heterostructure and the emitted electric field. Electronic effects are treated on the nano scale using the Boltzmann transport equation for the dynamics of out-of-equilibrium charge carriers, numerically solved with a particle-in-cell code. The optical effects are simulated with a formalism that bridges the nanometer scale of the structure to the micrometer scale of the emitted waves. The approach helps to understand recent experimental findings on the basis of microscopic scattering effects and transport phenomena. Our theory's versatility allows it to be readily adapted to a wide spectrum of spintronic THz emitter designs. As an example, we show how the THz generation efficiency, defined as output to input power ratio, can be improved and optimized using serially stacked layers in conjunction with THz anti-reflection coatings.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2018

Microscopic theory of cavity-enhanced single-photon emission from optical two-photon Raman processes

We consider cavity-enhanced single-photon generation from stimulated two-photon Raman processes in three-level systems. We compare four fundamental system configurations, one $Λ$-, one V- and two ladder ($Ξ$-) configurations. These can be realized as subsystems of a single quantum dot or of quantum-dot molecules. For a new microscopic understanding of the Raman process, we analyze the Heisenberg equation of motion applying the cluster-expansion scheme. Within this formalism an exact and rigorous definition of a cavity-enhanced Raman photon via its corresponding Raman correlation is possible. This definition for example enables us to systematically investigate the on-demand potential of Raman-transition-based single-photon sources. The four system arrangements can be divided into two subclasses, $Λ$-type and V-type, which exhibit strongly different Raman-emission characteristics and Raman-emission probabilities. Moreover, our approach reveals whether the Raman path generates a single photon or just induces destructive quantum interference with other excitation paths. Based on our findings and as a first application, we gain a more detailed understanding of experimental data from the literature. Our analysis and results are also transferable to the case of atomic three-level-resonator systems, and can be extended to more complicated multi-level schemes.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Directional optical switching and transistor functionality using optical parametric oscillation in a spinor polariton fluid

Over the past decade, spontaneously emerging patterns in the density of polaritons in semiconductor microcavities were found to be a promising candidate for all-optical switching. But recent approaches were mostly restricted to scalar fields, did not benefit from the polariton's unique spin-dependent properties, and utilized switching based on hexagon far-field patterns with 60° beam switching (i.e. in the far field the beam propagation direction is switched by 60°). Since hexagon far-field patterns are challenging, we present here an approach for a linearly polarized spinor field, that allows for a transistor-like (e.g., crucial for cascadability) orthogonal beam switching, i.e. in the far field the beam is switched by 90°. We show that switching specifications such as amplification and speed can be adjusted using only optical means.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2017

Optically controlled orbital angular momentum generation in a polaritonic quantum fluid

Applications of the orbital angular momentum (OAM) of light range from the next generation of optical communication systems to optical imaging and optical manipulation of particles. Here we propose a micron-sized semiconductor source which emits light with pre-defined OAM components. This source is based on a polaritonic quantum fluid. We show how in this system modulational instabilities can be controlled and harnessed for the spontaneous formation of OAM components not present in the pump laser source. Once created, the OAM states exhibit exotic flow patterns in the quantum fluid, characterized by generation-annihilation pairs. These can only occur in open systems, not in equilibrium condensates, in contrast to well-established vortex-antivortex pairs.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2016

All-optical tailoring of single-photon spectra in a quantum-dot microcavity system

Semiconductor quantum-dot cavity systems are promising sources for solid-state based on-demand generation of single photons for quantum communication. Commonly, the spectral characteristics of the emitted single photon are fixed by system properties such as electronic transition energies and spectral properties of the cavity. In the present work we study single-photon generation from the quantum-dot biexciton through a partly stimulated non-degenerate two-photon emission. We show that frequency and linewidth of the single photon can be fully controlled by the stimulating laser pulse, ultimately allowing for efficient all-optical spectral shaping of the single photon.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

Polarization dependence of nonlinear wave mixing of spinor polaritons in semiconductor microcavities

The pseudo-spin dynamics of propagating exciton-polaritons in semiconductor microcavities are known to be strongly influenced by TE-TM splitting. As a vivid consequence, in the Rayleigh scattering regime, the TE-TM splitting gives rise to the optical spin Hall effect (OSHE). Much less is known about its role in the nonlinear optical regime in which four-wave mixing for example allows the formation of spatial patterns in the polariton density, such that hexagons and two-spot patterns are observable in the far field. Here we present a detailed analysis of spin-dependent four-wave mixing processes, by combining the (linear) physics of TE-TM splitting with spin-dependent nonlinear processes, i.e., exciton-exciton interaction and fermionic phase-space filling. Our combined theoretical and experimental study elucidates the complex physics of the four-wave mixing processes that govern polarization and orientation of off-axis modes.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2013

Optical characterization of electron-phonon interactions at the saddle point in graphene

The role of electron-phonon interactions is experimentally and theoretically investigated near the saddle point absorption peak of graphene. The differential optical transmission spectra of multiple, non-interacting layers of graphene reveals the dominant role played by electron-acoustic phonon coupling in bandstructure renormalization. Using a Born approximation for electron-phonon coupling and experimental estimates of the dynamic phonon lattice temperature, we deduce the effective acoustic deformation potential to be $D^{\rm ac}_{\rm eff} \simeq 5$eV. This value is in accord with recent theoretical predictions but differs substantially from those obtained using electrical transport measurements.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗