Onset and dynamics of vortex-antivortex pairs in polariton OPO superfluids

TL;DR

This paper investigates the formation and behavior of vortex-antivortex pairs in polariton superfluids within the optical parametric oscillator regime, combining theoretical modeling and experimental observations to understand their dynamics and detection.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive explanation of the onset and dynamics of topological defects in polariton OPO superfluids, integrating a generalized Gross-Pitaevskii equation with experimental data.

Findings

Vortex-antivortex pairs form in couples due to local supercurrents.

Topological defects can be visually detected in multi-shot experiments.

Theoretical model explains the deterministic behavior of defect formation.

Abstract

We study, both theoretically and experimentally, the occurrence of topological defects in polariton superfluids in the optical parametric oscillator (OPO) regime. We explain in terms of local supercurrents the deterministic behaviour of both onset and dynamics of spontaneous vortex-antivortex pairs generated by perturbing the system with a pulsed probe. Using a generalised Gross-Pitaevskii equation, including photonic disorder, pumping and decay, we elucidate the reason why topological defects form in couples and can be detected by direct visualizations in multi-shot OPO experiments.