Year: 2017
Type: article
Abstract: The experimental realization of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) with atoms and quasiparticles has triggered wide exploration of macroscopic quantum effects. Microcavity polaritons are of particular interest because quantum phenomena such as BEC and superfluidity can be observed at elevated temperatures. However, polariton lifetimes are typically too short to permit thermal equilibration. This has led to debate about whether polariton condensation is intrinsically a nonequilibrium effect. Here we report the first unambiguous observation of BEC of optically trapped polaritons in thermal equilibrium in a high-Q microcavity, evidenced by equilibrium Bose-Einstein distributions over broad ranges of polariton densities and bath temperatures. With thermal equilibrium established, we verify that polariton condensation is a phase transition with a well-defined density-temperature phase diagram. The measured phase boundary agrees well with the predictions of basic quantum gas theory.
Source: Physical Review Letters
Authors: Yongbao Sun, Patrick Wen, Yoseob Yoon, Gangqiang Liu, Mark Steger, Loren N. Pfeiffer, Ken West, David W. Snoke, Keith A. Nelson
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Awards: G1268236209, G1349703009, Princeton Center for Complex Materials, G1829435969, Loren Pfeiffer and Mansour Shayegan Materials Synthesis Investigator Awards, G3224369381, TAS::89 0227::TAS RECOVERY; RECOVERY ACT - CENTER FOR EXCITONICS -- EFRC; PI - MARC BALDO, Quantum Optics with Polariton Condensates, G7097480066, TAS::89 0227::TAS RECOVERY; RECOVERY ACT - CENTER FOR EXCITONICS -- EFRC; PI - MARC BALDO, Trapped Polariton Condensates: Fundamental Optical Studies and Novel Fabrication Methods, G952865507
OpenAlex ID: W2237050955