Unconditional generation of bright coherent non-Gaussian light from exciton-polariton condensates

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that exciton-polariton condensates can serve as a stable, continuous-wave source of bright, non-Gaussian light with potential applications in quantum information processing.

Contribution

It introduces a method to generate non-Gaussian light from exciton-polariton condensates, highlighting their nonlinearity and steady-state non-Gaussian emission unlike traditional lasers.

Findings

Light exhibits negative Wigner function component at steady state

Average photon number exceeds one in the emitted light

Emission is continuous wave and non-Gaussian

Abstract

Exciton-polariton condensates are considered as a deterministic source of bright, coherent non-Gaussian light. Exciton-polariton condensates emit coherent light via the photoluminescence through the microcavity mirrors due to the spontaneous formation of coherence. Unlike conventional lasers which emit coherent Gaussian light, polaritons possess a natural nonlinearity due to the interaction of the excitonic component. This produces light with a negative component to the Wigner function at steady-state operation when the phase is stabilized via a suitable method such as injection locking. In contrast to many other proposals for sources of non-Gaussian light, in our case, the light typically has an average photon number exceeding one and emerges as a continuous wave. Such a source may have uses in continuous-variable quantum information and communication.