Kinetics of stimulated polariton scattering in planar microcavities: Evidence for a dynamically self-organized optical parametric oscillator

TL;DR

This paper reports the first observation of strong temporal hysteresis in polariton populations within a planar microcavity, revealing a self-organized optical parametric oscillator driven by nonlinear multi-mode scattering.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of a dynamically self-organized optical parametric oscillator based on hysteresis and bistability in polariton kinetics under pulsed excitation.

Findings

Observation of temporal hysteresis in polariton populations

Identification of a self-organized optical parametric oscillator

Explanation of hysteresis via multi-mode scattering and bistability

Abstract

We demonstrate for the first time the strong temporal hysteresis effects in the kinetics of the pumped and scattered polariton populations in a planar semiconductor microcavity under a nano-second-long pulsed resonant (by frequency and angle) excitation above the lower polariton branch. The hysteresis effects are explained in the model of multi-mode scattering when the bistability of the nonlinear pumped polariton is accompanied by the explosive growth of the scattered polaritons population. Subsequent self-organization process in the nonlinear polariton system results in a new -- dynamically self-organized -- type of optical parametric oscillator.