Probing the Dynamics of Spontaneous Quantum Vortices in Polariton Superfluids

K. G. Lagoudakis, F. Manni, B. Pietka, M. Wouters, T. C. H. Liew, V. Savona, A. V. Kavokin, R. André, and B. Deveaud-Plédran
Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 115301 – Published 16 March 2011

Abstract

The experimental investigation of spontaneously created vortices is of utmost importance for the understanding of quantum phase transitions towards a superfluid phase, especially for two-dimensional systems that are expected to be governed by the Berezinski-Kosterlitz-Thouless physics. By means of time-resolved near-field interferometry we track the path of such vortices, created at random locations in an exciton-polariton condensate under pulsed nonresonant excitation, to their final pinning positions imposed by the stationary disorder. We formulate a theoretical model that successfully reproduces the experimental observations.

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  • Received 7 December 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.115301

© 2011 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

K. G. Lagoudakis1, F. Manni1, B. Pietka1, M. Wouters2, T. C. H. Liew2, V. Savona2, A. V. Kavokin3, R. André4, and B. Deveaud-Plédran1

  • 1Institute of Condensed Matter Physics (ICMP), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
  • 2Institute of Theoretical Physics (ITP), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
  • 3Physics and Astronomy School, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, SO171BJ, United Kingdom
  • 4Institut Néel, CNRS, Grenoble, France

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Issue

Vol. 106, Iss. 11 — 18 March 2011

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