Quantum boxes as active probes for photonic microstructures: The pillar microcavity case

Gérard, Jean‐Michel; Barrier, D.; Marzin, J. Y.; Kuszelewicz, R.; Manin, L.; Costard, E.; Thierry‐Mieg, V.; Rivera, T.

doi:10.1063/1.118135

Cited by 287 publications

(210 citation statements)

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“…This result is further confirmed by performing a two-dimensional finite-elements mode calculation (COMSOL) using Maxwell's equations for the hexagonal geometry of our structure in the infinite guide approximation [32]. This method has been used in the past to successfully calculate the shape and energy of the eigenmodes in semiconductor micropillars [37]. The simulation shows the same level ordering and polarization patterns as those in Figs.…”

Section: Emergence Of the Spin-orbit Couplingsupporting

confidence: 52%

Spin-Orbit Coupling for Photons and Polaritons in Microstructures

et al. 2015

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We use coupled micropillars etched out of a semiconductor microcavity to engineer a spin-orbit Hamiltonian for photons and polaritons in a microstructure. The coupling between the spin and orbital momentum arises from the polarization-dependent confinement and tunneling of photons between adjacent micropillars arranged in the form of a hexagonal photonic molecule. It results in polariton eigenstates with distinct polarization patterns, which are revealed in photoluminescence experiments in the regime of polariton condensation. Thanks to the strong polariton nonlinearities, our system provides a photonic workbench for the quantum simulation of the interplay between interactions and spin-orbit effects, particularly when extended to two-dimensional lattices.

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Section: Emergence Of the Spin-orbit Couplingsupporting

confidence: 52%

Spin-Orbit Coupling for Photons and Polaritons in Microstructures

et al. 2015

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“…In such zero-dimensional (0D) cavities, polariton states are confined in all directions and present a well defined discretized energy spectrum. [11,12] The absence of translation invariance lifts the wave-vector conservation selection-rules in polariton scatterings. In GaAs 2D microcavities, these selection rules are responsible for inefficient polariton-phonon or polariton-polariton scattering, preventing the build-up of a large occupancy in the lower energy states.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…As a result, micropillars exhibit discrete 0D photon modes. [11] In the strong coupling regime, polaritons come from the mixing between each of these 0D photon modes and the QW excitons. [12] Fig.…”

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confidence: 99%

Polariton Laser Using Single MicropillarGaAs−GaAlAsSemiconductor Cavities

et al. 2008

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Polariton lasing is demonstrated on the zero dimensional states of single GaAs/GaAlAs micropillar cavities. Under non resonant excitation, the measured polariton ground state occupancy is found to be as large as 10 4 . Changing the spatial excitation conditions, competition between several polariton lasing modes is observed, ruling out Bose-Einstein condensation. When the polariton state occupancy increases, the emission blueshift is the signature of self-interaction within the halflight half-matter polariton lasing mode.PACS numbers: 78.55. Et, 71.36.+c, 78.45.+h Boson statistics can lead to massive occupation of a single quantum state and trigger final state stimulation. This stimulation is responsible for the bright coherent emission of light in a laser. Another fascinating property of massive bosons in thermal equilibrium is their ability to accumulate in the lowest energy state under a given critical temperature. First predicted in 1925,[1] the experimental observation of Bose Einstein condensation was achieved in the mid 1990s for ultra-cold atoms. [2,3] Demonstrating such bosonic effects with matter waves in a solid state system is very interesting both from fundamental point of view but also for applications since it could provide a new source of coherent light. Cavity polaritons are an example of quasi-particles behaving as bosons at low density. [4,5] They are the exciton-photon mixed quasi-particles arising from the strong coupling regime between quantum well (QW) excitons and a resonant optical cavity mode. Because of their very small effective mass (10 −8 times that of the hydrogen atom) cavity polaritons are expected to condensate at unusually high temperatures (up to room temperature in wide band gap microcavities).[6] These last years, massive occupation of a polariton state has been observed in semiconductor two-dimensional (2D) cavities and attributed to Bose Einstein condensation [7,8] or to polariton lasing. [9] More recently, polariton condensation has been claimed in a localized energy trap [10] where the trap dimensions are sufficiently large for the system to present a 2D continuum of polariton states. In these experiments, the clear distinction of a thermodynamic phase transition (Bose Einstein condensation) from a kinetic stimulated scattering (polariton lasing) is still debated.In this letter, we demonstrate polariton lasing in micrometric sized GaAs/GaAlAs micropillar cavities. In such zero-dimensional (0D) cavities, polariton states are confined in all directions and present a well defined discretized energy spectrum. [11,12] The absence of translation invariance lifts the wave-vector conservation selection-rules in polariton scatterings. In GaAs 2D microcavities, these selection rules are responsible for inefficient polariton-phonon or polariton-polariton scattering, preventing the build-up of a large occupancy in the lower energy states. [13,14,15,16] In this work, we show that polariton scattering is very efficient in micropillar cavities. Under non resonant excitation, a thres...

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“…We now turn to a discussion of three systems that could provide a setting for the schemes discussed above, all of which have been used recently to study strong coupling effects between photons and quantum dots [13]; they are: photonic crystal defect microcavities [14], microdiscs [15] and micropillars [16].…”

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confidence: 99%

Strong Coupling between Single Photons in Semiconductor Microcavities

2006

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We discuss the observability of strong coupling between single photons in semiconductor microcavities coupled by a χ (2) nonlinearity. We present two schemes and analyze the feasibility of their practical implementation in three systems: photonic crystal defects, micropillars and microdisks, fabricated out of GaAs. We show that if a weak coherent state is used to enhance the χ (2) interaction, the strong coupling regime between two modes at different frequencies occupied by a single photon is within reach of current technology. The unstimulated strong coupling of a single photon and a photon pair is very challenging and will require an improvement in mirocavity quality factors of 2-4 orders of magnitude to be observable.The experimental realisations of strong coupling between a single mode of an optical cavity and a single atom have made it possible to demonstrate striking predictions of cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED) [1]. Quantum information science has since provided motivation for gaining additional control of such strongly and coherently coupled systems. Quantum dots embedded in monolithic optical cavities have emerged as a promising system for the scalable implementation of cavity QED. Motivated in part by this promise, a large effort has been put into the fabrication of small high quality monolithic microcavities [2].In parallel, a research effort has begun to make use of the high nonlinearities of semiconductor materials such as GaAs to perform classical frequency conversion, using microcavities to enhance the electric field strength and microstructures to provide the necessary phase-matching conditions [3]. Recently this approach was extended to parametric down-conversion in nonlinear photonic crystals for the generation of entangled photon pairs [4].Here we discuss the observability of strong coupling between single photons in microcavities coupled by an optical nonlinearity, with an emphasis on the implementation in realistic structures.We consider two schemes: the first consists of two spatially overlapping single-mode cavities or a doublyresonant cavity at frequencies ω a and ω b such that ω a = 2ω b , coupled by a χ (2) non-linearity that mediates the conversion of a photon in cavity a to two photons in cavity b and vice-versa. The second consists of three overlapping microcavities with frequencies ω a,b,c satisfying ω a = ω b + ω c , with cavity c taken to be occupied by a coherent state |α c . The effective nonlinearity in this case couples the conversion of a single photon in cavity a to a single photon in cavity b and is enhanced by the coherent state in mode c.The dynamics of the two systems are similar. For the sake of clarity we will therefore solve the dynamics of the two-mode system and then state the corresponding results for the three mode system. The Hamiltonian for the two-mode system is given by:( 1) whereâ † (â),b † (b) represent creation(annihilation) operators for modes a, b and Ω is the strength of the coupling between the modes:where χ (2) ijk (r) is the non-linear susceptib...

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Quantum boxes as active probes for photonic microstructures: The pillar microcavity case

Cited by 287 publications

References 1 publication

Spin-Orbit Coupling for Photons and Polaritons in Microstructures

Spin-Orbit Coupling for Photons and Polaritons in Microstructures

Polariton Laser Using Single MicropillarGaAs−GaAlAsSemiconductor Cavities

Strong Coupling between Single Photons in Semiconductor Microcavities

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