Backscattering suppression in supersonic 1D polariton condensates

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that increasing the density of supersonic 1D polariton condensates suppresses backscattering caused by disorder, revealing a new frictionless flow mechanism enabled by parametric instabilities.

Contribution

It uncovers a novel backscattering suppression mechanism in high-density, supersonic polariton condensates due to parametric instabilities.

Findings

Backscattering is strongly suppressed at high condensate densities.

Suppression occurs in the supersonic regime with parametric instabilities.

Results suggest a frictionless flow mechanism for polaritons at high speeds.

Abstract

We investigate the effects of disorder on the propagation of one-dimensional polariton condensates in semiconductor microcavities. We observe a strong suppression of the backscattering produced by the imperfections of the structure when increasing the condensate density. This suppression occurs in the supersonic regime and is simultaneous to the onset of parametric instabilities which enable the "hopping" of the condensate through the disorder. Our results evidence a new mechanism for the frictionless flow of polaritons at high speeds.