Spontaneous Pattern Formation in a Polariton Condensate

TL;DR

This paper reports the observation of spontaneous pattern formation in a polariton condensate, where non-resonant optical pumping induces a multi-lobe standing wave pattern, revealing self-organization in quantum fluids.

Contribution

It demonstrates spontaneous density pattern formation in polariton condensates under specific experimental conditions, highlighting new self-organization phenomena.

Findings

Pattern formation observed in polariton condensates

Multi-lobe standing wave states identified

Spontaneous self-organization demonstrated

Abstract

Polariton condensation can be regarded as a self-organization phenomenon, where phase ordering is established among particles in the system. In such condensed systems, further ordering can possibly occur in the particle density distribution, under particular experimental conditions. In this work we report on spontaneous pattern formation in a polariton condensate under non-resonant optical pumping. The slightly elliptical ring-shaped excitation laser we employ is such to force condensation to occur in a single-energy state with periodic boundary conditions, giving rise to a multi-lobe standing wave patterned state.