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Stefan Schumacher

Publications and source records attributed to Stefan Schumacher.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Split-ring polariton condensates as macroscopic two-level quantum systems

Superposition states of circular currents of exciton-polaritons mimic the superconducting flux qubits. The phase of a polariton fluid must change by an integer number of $2π$, when going around the ring. If one introduces a $π$-phase delay line in the ring, the fluid is obliged to propagate a clockwise or anticlockwise circular current to reduce the total phase gained over one round-trip to zero or to build it up to $2π$. We show that such a $π$-delay line can be provided by a dark soliton pinned to a potential well created by a C-shape non-resonant pump-spot. The resulting split-ring polariton condensates exhibit pronounced coherent oscillations passing periodically through clockwise and anticlockwise current states. These oscillations may persist far beyond the coherence time of polariton condensates. The qubits based on split-ring polariton condensates are expected to possess very high figures of merit that makes them a valuable alternative to superconducting qubits. The use of the dipole-polarized polaritons allows to control coherently the state of the qubit with the external electric field. This is shown to be one of the tools for realization of single-qubit logic operations. We propose the design of an $i$SWAP gate based on a pair of coupled polariton qubits. To demonstrate the capacity of the polariton platform for quantum computations, we propose a protocol for the realization of the Deutsch's algorithm with polariton qubit networks.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Spiraling vortices in exciton-polariton condensates

We introduce the phenomenon of spiraling vortices in driven-dissipative (non-equilibrium) exciton-polariton condensates excited by a non-resonant pump beam. At suitable low pump intensities, these vortices are shown to spiral along circular trajectories whose diameter is inversely proportional to the effective mass of the polaritons, while the rotation period is mass independent. Both diameter and rotation period are inversely proportional to the pump intensity. Stable spiraling patterns in the form of complexes of multiple mutually-interacting vortices are also found. At elevated pump intensities, which create a stronger homogeneous background, we observe more complex vortex trajectories resembling Spirograph patterns.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

Formation dynamics of exciton polariton vortices created by non-resonant annular pumping

We study the spontaneous formation of exciton polariton vortices in an all-optical non-resonantly excited annular trap, which is formed by ring-shaped subpicosecond laser pulses. Since the light emitted by these vortices carries orbital angular momentum (OAM) corresponding to their topological charge, we apply a dedicated OAM spectroscopy technique to detect the OAM of the measurement signal with picosecond time resolution. This allows us to identify the formation of OAM modes and investigate the dynamics of the vortex formation process. We also study the power dependence of this process and how the ring diameter influences the formation of OAM modes.

physics.optics↗

Circular polarization reversal of half-vortex cores in polariton condensates

Vortices are topological objects carrying quantized orbital angular momentum and have been widely studied in many physical systems for their applicability in information storage and processing. In systems with spin degree of freedom the elementary excitations are so called half-vortices, carrying a quantum rotation only in one of the two spin components. We study the spontaneous formation and stability of localized such half-vortices in semiconductor microcavity polariton condensates, non-resonantly excited by a linearly polarized ring-shaped pump. The TE-TM splitting of optical modes in the microcavity system leads to an effective spin-orbit coupling, resulting in solutions with discrete rotational symmetry. The cross-interaction between different spin components provides an efficient method to realize all-optical half-vortex core switching inverting its circular polarization state. This switching can be directly measured in the polarization resolved intensity in the vortex core region and it can also be applied to higher order half-vortex states.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Multistable circular currents of polariton condensates trapped in ring potentials

We demonstrate the formation and trapping of different stationary solutions, oscillatory solutions, and rotating solutions of a polariton condensate in a planar semiconductor microcavity with a built-in ring-shaped potential well. Multistable ring shaped solutions are trapped in shallow potential wells. These solutions have the same ring shaped density distribution but different topological charges, corresponding to different orbital angular momentum (OAM) of the emitted light. For stronger confinement potentials, besides the fundamental modes, higher excited (dipole) modes can also be trapped. If two modes are excited simultaneously, their beating produces a complex oscillation and rotation dynamics. When the two modes have the same OAM, a double-ring solution forms for which the density oscillates between the inner and the outer ring. When the two modes have different OAM, a rotating solution with a crescent-shaped density and fractional OAM is created.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

Controllable high-speed polariton waves in a PT-symmetric lattice

Parity-time (PT) symmetry gives rise to unusual phenomena in many physical systems, presently attracting a lot of attention. One essential and non-trivial task is the fabrication and design of the PT-symmetric lattices in different systems. Here we introduce a method to realize such a lattice in an exciton-polariton condensate in a planar semiconductor microcavity. We theoretically demonstrate that in the regime, where lattice profile is nearly PT-symmetric, a polariton wave can propagate at very high velocity resulting from the beating of a ground state condensate created in the lowest energy band at very small momentum and a condensate simultaneously created in higher energy states with large momentum. The spontaneous excitation of these two states in the nonlinear regime due to competition between multiple eigenmodes becomes possible since the spectrum of nearly PT-symmetric structure reveals practically identical amplification for Bloch waves from the entire Brillouin zone. There exists a wide velocity range for the resulting polariton wave. This velocity can be controlled by an additional coherent pulse carrying a specific momentum. We also discuss the breakup of the PT-symmetry when the polariton lifetime exceeds a certain threshold value.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

Realization of all-optical vortex switching in exciton-polariton condensates

Vortices are topological objects representing the circular motion of a fluid. With their additional degree of freedom, the 'vorticity', they have been widely investigated in many physical systems and different materials for fundamental interest and for applications in data storage and information processing. Vortices have also been observed in non-equilibrium exciton-polariton condensates in planar semiconductor microcavities. There they appear spontaneously or can be created and pinned in space using ring-shaped optical excitation profiles. However, using the vortex state for information processing not only requires creation of a vortex but also efficient control over the vortex after its creation. Here we demonstrate a simple approach to control and switch a localized polariton vortex between opposite states. In our scheme, both the optical control of vorticity and its detection through the orbital angular momentum of the emitted light are implemented in a robust and practical manner.

physics.optics↗

Vortex multistability and Bessel vortices in polariton condensates

Vortices are topological objects formed in coherent nonlinear systems. As such they are studied in a wide number of physical systems and promise applications in information storage, processing, and communication. In semiconductor microcavities, vortices in polariton condensates can be conveniently created, studied, and manipulated using solely optical means. For non-resonant excitation with a ring-shaped pump a stable vortex can be formed, leading to bistability with left- and righthanded vorticity. In the present work we report on a much richer vortex multistability, with optically addressable vortices with topological charges |m|=1, 2, and 3, all stable for the same system and excitation parameters. This unusual multistable behavior is rooted in the inherent nonlinear feedback between reservoir excitations and condensate in the microcavity. For larger radius of the ring shaped pump we also find a Bessel vortex with its characteristic spiralling phase in the high density region and pronounced self-stabilization ability. Our theoretical results open up exciting possibilities for optical manipulation of vortex multiplets in a compact semiconductor system.

physics.optics↗

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↗

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↗

Vortex-vortex control in exciton-polariton condensates

Vortices are widely studied in fields ranging from nonlinear optics to magnetic systems and superconductors. A vortex carries a binary information corresponding to its topological charge, `plus' or `minus', that can be used for information storage and processing. In spatially extended optical and condensed many-particle systems, achieving full control over vortex formation and its charge is particularly difficult and is not easily extended to systems of multiple vortices. Here we demonstrate the optical creation of multiplets of phase-locked vortices in polariton condensates using off-resonant excitation with ring-shaped pump beams. We find that the vorticity of one vortex can be controlled solely using the phase-locking with other nearby vortices. Using this mechanism, we demonstrate how an existing vortex with a specific topological charge can be inverted to the oppositely charged state, and how the charge state of one reference vortex can be copied to a neighboring vortex. This way we can optically encode any set of binary information onto a chain of vortices. We further show that this information can be modified later by using the possibility to address and manipulate each vortex in the chain individually.

physics.optics↗

Polarization-entangled twin photons from two-photon quantum-dot emission

Semiconductor quantum dots are promising sources for polarization-entangled photons. As an alternative to the usual cascaded biexciton-exciton emission, direct two-photon emission from the biexciton can be used. With a high-quality optical resonator tuned to half the biexciton energy, a large proportion of the photons can be steered into the two-photon emission channel. In this case the degree of polarization entanglement is inherently insensitive to the exciton fine-structure splitting. In the present work we analyze the biexciton emission with particular emphasis on the influence of coupling of the quantum-dot cavity system to its environment. Especially for a high-quality cavity, the coupling to the surrounding semiconductor material can open up additional phonon-assisted decay channels. Our analysis demonstrates that with the cavity tuned to half the biexciton energy, the potentially detrimental influence of the phonons on the polarization entanglement is strongly suppressed -- high degrees of entanglement can still be achieved. We further discuss spectral properties and statistics of the emitted twin photons.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

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↗

Creation and manipulation of stable dark solitons and vortices in microcavity polariton condensates

Solitons and vortices obtain widespread attention in different physical systems as they offer potential use in information storage, processing, and communication. In exciton-polariton condensates in semiconductor microcavities, solitons and vortices can be created optically. However, dark solitons are unstable and vortices cannot be spatially controlled. In the present work we demonstrate the existence of stable dark solitons and vortices under non-resonant incoherent excitation of a polariton condensate with a simple spatially periodic pump. In one dimension, we show that an additional coherent light pulse can be used to create or destroy a dark soliton in a controlled manner. In two dimensions we demonstrate that a coherent light beam can be used to move a vortex to a specific position on the lattice or be set into motion by simply switching the periodic pump structure from two-dimensional (lattice) to one-dimensional (stripes). Our theoretical results open up exciting possibilities for optical on-demand generation and control of dark solitons and vortices in polariton condensates.

physics.optics↗

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↗

Two-dimensional symbiotic solitons and vortices in binary condensates with attractive cross-species interaction

We consider a two-dimensional (2D) two-component spinor system with cubic attraction between the components and intra-species self-repulsion, which may be realized in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates, as well as in a quasi-equilibrium condensate of microcavity polaritons. Including a 2D spatially periodic potential, which is necessary for the stabilization of the system against the critical collapse, we use detailed numerical calculations and an analytical variational approximation (VA) to predict the existence and stability of several types of 2D symbiotic solitons in the spinor system. Stability ranges are found for symmetric and asymmetric symbiotic fundamental solitons and vortices, including hidden-vorticity (HV) modes, with opposite vorticities in the two components. The VA produces exceptionally accurate predictions for the fundamental solitons and vortices. The fundamental solitons, both symmetric and asymmetric ones, are completely stable, in either case when they exist as gap solitons or regular ones. The symmetric and asymmetric vortices are stable if the inter-component attraction is stronger than the intra-species repulsion, while the HV modes have their stability region in the opposite case.

physics.optics↗

Experimental realization of a polariton beam amplifier

In this report we demonstrate a novel concept for a planar cavity polariton beam amplifier using non-resonant excitation. In contrast to resonant excitation schemes, background carriers are injected which form excitons, providing both gain and a repulsive potential for a polariton condensate. Using an attractive potential environment induced by a locally elongated cavity layer, the repulsive potential of the injected background carriers is compensated and a significant amplification of polariton beams is achieved without beam distortion.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

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↗