Hydrodynamic nucleation of vortices and solitons in a resonantly excited polariton superfluid

TL;DR

This paper theoretically investigates how exciton-polariton superfluids in microcavities respond to defects, focusing on vortex and soliton formation, and highlights unique non-equilibrium effects influencing superfluid behavior.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of vortex and soliton nucleation mechanisms in resonantly driven polariton superfluids, emphasizing non-equilibrium effects.

Findings

Vortex and soliton nucleation depend on flow speed and defect characteristics.

Non-equilibrium nature leads to unique superfluid response features.

Regimes of unperturbed superfluid flow are identified.

Abstract

We present a theoretical study of the hydrodynamic properties of a quantum gas of exciton-polaritons in a semiconductor microcavity under a resonant laser excitation. The effect of a spatially extended defect on the superfluid flow is investigated as a function of the flow speed. The processes that are responsible for the nucleation of vortices and solitons in the wake of the defect are characterized, as well as the regimes where the superfluid flow remains unperturbed. Specific features due to the non-equilibrium nature of the polariton fluid are put in evidence.