Self-localization of polariton condensates in periodic potentials

TL;DR

This paper predicts novel self-localized exciton-polariton states in semiconductor microcavities with periodic potentials, driven by gain and loss effects, expanding understanding of polariton condensate localization mechanisms.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical framework showing self-localization of polariton condensates in periodic potentials due to gain and dissipation, not just external potential effects.

Findings

Localization occurs in both gaps and bands of the spectrum.

Self-localization is primarily driven by gain and dissipation effects.

Localization persists over a wide range of pump parameters.

Abstract

We predict the existence of novel spatially localized states of exciton-polariton Bose-Einstein condensates in semiconductor microcavities with fabricated periodic in-plane potentials. Our theory shows that, under the condition of continuous off-resonant pumping and losses associated with polariton decay, localization is observed for a wide range of optical pump parameters due to effective potentials self-induced by the polariton flows in the spatially periodic system. We reveal that the self-localization of exciton-polaritons in the lattice may occur both in the gaps and bands of the single-particle linear spectrum, and is dominated by the effects of gain and dissipation rather than the applied potential, in sharp contrast to the conservative condensates of ultracold alkali atoms.