Electric generation of vortices in an exciton-polariton superfluid

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a theoretical method for electrically generating and controlling vortices in an exciton-polariton superfluid using metallic structures and voltage pulses, enabling precise vortex manipulation.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach for on-demand vortex creation and control in exciton-polariton superfluids via electric pulses and metallic electrode configurations.

Findings

Vortices can be generated by applying electric pulses to metallic mesas.

Vortex trajectories are controllable through additional electrode voltages.

Single static vortices can be created with a single metallic plate.

Abstract

We have theoretically demonstrated the on demand electric generation of vortices in an exciton-polariton superfluid. Electric pulses applied to a horseshoe-shaped metallic mesa, deposited on top of the microcavity, generate a non-cylindrically symmetric solitonic wave in the system. Breakdown of its wavefront at focal points leads to the formation of vortex-antivortex pairs which subsequently propagate in the superfluid. The trajectory of these vortex dipoles can be controlled by applying a voltage to additional electrodes. They can be confined within channels formed by metallic stripes and unbound by a wedged mesa giving birth to grey solitons. Finally single static vortices can be generated using a single metallic plate configuration.