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Variable potentials for thermalized light and coupled condensates

delete2017-08-14
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OA
AI
D
David Dung
C
Christian Kurtscheid
T
Tobias Damm
J
Julian Schmitt
F
Frank Vewinger
M
Martin Weitz
J
Jan Klaers *
DOI:10.1038/NPHOTON.2017.139delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Quantum gases in lattice potentials have been a powerful platform to simulate phenomena from solid-state physics, such as the Mott insulator transition(1). In contrast to ultracold atoms, photon-based platforms, such as photonic crystals, coupled waveguides or lasers, usually do not operate in thermal equilibrium(2-5). Advances towards photonic simulators of solid-state equilibrium effects include polariton lattice experiments(6-10), and the demonstration of a photon condensate(11,12). Here, we demonstrate a technique to create variable micropotentials for light using thermo-optic imprinting of a dye-polymer solution within an ultrahigh-finesse microcavity. We study the properties of single-and double-well potentials, and find the quality of structuring sufficient for thermalization and Bose-Einstein condensation of light. The investigation of effective photon-photon interactions along with the observed tunnel coupling between sites makes the system a promising candidate to directly populate entangled photonic many-body states. The demonstrated scalability suggests that thermo-optic imprinting provides a new approach for variable microstructuring in photonics.
Keywords:
PHOTONIC LATTICES
PHASE-TRANSITION
POLY(N-ISOPROPYLACRYLAMIDE)
MICROCAVITIES
TEMPERATURE
POLARITONS

Journal

Nature Photonics cover
Nature Photonics
IF:
32.9
Papers:
4.3K
Citations:
6.1W

Organization

U
university of bonn
Scholars:
3.3W
Papers: 2.6W
Citations: 29