The physics of exciton-polariton condensates

In 2006 researchers created the first polariton Bose-Einstein condensate at 19K in the solid state. Being inherently open quantum systems, polariton condensates open a window into the unpredictable world of physics beyond the “fifth state of matter”: the limited lifetime of polaritons renders polariton condensates out-of-equilibrium and provides a fertile test-bed for non-equilibrium physics. This book presents an experimental investigation into exciting features arising from this non-equilibrium behavior. Through careful experimentation, the author demonstrates the ability of polaritons to synchronize and create a single energy delocalized condensate. Under certain disorder and excitation conditions the complete opposite case of coexisting spatially overlapping condensates may be observed. The author provides the first demonstration of quantized vortices in polariton condensates and the first observation of fractional vortices with full phase and amplitude characterization. Finally, this book investigates the dynamics of polariton populations trapped in neighboring potential traps – and shows that coherent population oscillations are observed – in direct analogy to the AC Josephson effect. This book puts significant weight on both the details of the experimental techniques and the theoretical tools used pick apart the experimental findings making it an invaluable aide for condensed matter researchers interested in exciton-polaritons condensates.