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Xuekai Ma

Publications and source records attributed to Xuekai Ma.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked 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↗

Exciton interaction induced spin splitting in MoS$_2$ monolayer

By pumping nonresonantly a MoS$_2$ monolayer at $13$ K under a circularly polarized cw laser, we observe exciton energy redshifts that break the degeneracy between B excitons with opposite spin. The energy splitting increases monotonically with the laser power reaching as much as $18$ meV, while it diminishes with the temperature. The phenomenon can be explained theoretically by considering simultaneously the bandgap renormalization which gives rise to the redshift and exciton-exciton Coulomb exchange interaction which is responsible for the spin-dependent splitting. Our results offer a simple scheme to control the valley degree of freedom in MoS$_2$ monolayer and provide an accessible method in investigating many-body exciton exciton interaction in such materials.

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↗

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↗

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↗

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↗

Defect Solitons in Parity-Time Symmetric Optical Lattices with Nonlocal Nonlinearity

The existence and stability of defect solitons in parity-time (PT) symmetric optical lattices with nonlocal nonlinearity are reported. It is found that nonlocality can expand the stability region of defect solitons. For positive or zero defects, fundamental and dipole solitons can exist stably in the semi-infinite gap and the first gap, respectively. For negative defects, fundamental solitons can be stable in both the semi-infinite gap and the first gap, whereas dipole solitons are unstable in the first gap. There exist a maximum degree of nonlocal nonlinearity, above which the fundamental solitons in the semi-infinite gap and the dipole solitons in the first gap do not exist for negative defects. The influence of the imaginary part of the PT-symmetric potentials on soliton stability is given. When the modulation depth of the PT-symmetric lattices is small, defect solitons can be stable for positive and zero defects, even if the PT-symmetric potential is above the phase transition point.

physics.optics↗

Defect solitons supported by nonlocal PT symmetric superlattices

The existence and stability of defect solitons supported by parity-time (PT) symmetric superlattices with nonlocal nonlinearity are investigated. In the semi-infinite gap, in-phase solitons are found to exist stably for positive or zero defects, but can not exist in the presence of negative defects with strong nonlocality. In the first gap, out-of-phase solitons are stable for positive or zero defects, whereas in-phase solitons are stable for negative defects. The dependence of soliton stabilities on modulation depth of the PT potentials is studied. It is interesting that solitons can exist stably for positive and zero defects when the PT potentials are above the phase transition points.

physics.optics↗

Solitons in thermal media with periodic modulation of linear refractive index

We address the existence and properties of solitons in thermal media with periodic modulation of linear refractive index. Many kinds of solitons in such optical lattices, including symmetric and antisymmetric lattices, are found under different conditions. We study the influence of the refractive index difference between two different layers on solitons. It is also found that there do not exist cutoff value of propagation constant and soliton power for shifted lattice solitons. In addition, the solitons launched away from their stationary position may propagate without oscillation when the confinement from lattices is strong.

physics.optics↗

Solitons supported by complex PT symmetric Gaussian potentials

The existence and stability of fundamental, dipole, and tripole solitons in Kerr nonlinear media with parity-time symmetric Gaussian complex potentials are reported. Fundamental solitons are stable not only in deep potentials but also in shallow potentials. Dipole and tripole solitons are stable only in deep potentials, and tripole solitons are stable in deeper potentials than for dipole solitons. The stable regions of solitons increase with increasing potential depth. The power of solitons increases with increasing propagation constant or decreasing modulation depth of the potentials.

physics.optics↗

Multiple-type solutions for multipole interface solitons in thermal nonlinear media

We address the existence of multipole interface solitons in one-dimensional thermal nonlinear media with a step in the linear refractive index at the sample center. It is found that there exist two types of solutions for tripole and quadrupole interface solitons. The two types of interface solitons have different profiles, beam widths, mass centers, and stability regions. For a given propagation constant, only one type of interface soliton is proved to be stable, while the other type can also survive over a long distance. In addition, three types of solutions for fifth-order interface solitons are found.

physics.optics↗

Interface solitons in thermal nonlinear media

We demonstrate the existence of fundamental and dipole interface solitons in one-dimensional thermal nonlinear media with a step in linear refractive index. Fundamental interface solitons are found to be always stable and the stability of dipole interface solitons depends on the difference in linear refractive index. The mass center of interface solitons always locates in the side with higher index. Two intensity peaks of dipole interface solitons are unequal except some specific conditions, which is different from their counterparts in uniform thermal media.

physics.optics↗