Collective oscillations in spatially modulated exciton-polariton condensate arrays

TL;DR

This paper investigates the collective behavior and stability of exciton-polariton condensate arrays with spatial inhomogeneity, revealing conditions for multistability, mode transitions, and loss of synchronization relevant to polariton lasing dynamics.

Contribution

It develops a mode formalism for diatomic active oscillator lattices and identifies stability criteria, highlighting the impact of inhomogeneity and nonlinearity on mode dynamics and synchronization.

Findings

The $k_0=0$ mode has superior stability properties.

Reducing on-site losses or increasing nonlinearity promotes multistability.

High nonlinearity can lead to chaotic and desynchronized states.

Abstract

We study collective dynamics of interacting centers of exciton-polariton condensation in presence of spatial inhomogeneity, as modeled by diatomic active oscillator lattices. The mode formalism is developed and employed to derive existence and stability criteria of plane wave solutions. It is demonstrated that $k_0=0$ wave number mode with the binary elementary cell on a diatomic lattice possesses superior existence and stability properties. Decreasing net on-site losses (balance of dissipation and pumping) or conservative nonlinearity favors multistability of modes, while increasing frequency mismatch between adjacent oscillators detriments it. On the other hand, spatial inhomogeneity may recover stability of modes at high nonlinearities. Entering the region where all single-mode solutions are unstable we discover subsequent transitions between localized quasiperiodic, chaotic and global chaotic dynamics in the mode space, as nonlinearity increases. Importantly, the last transition evokes the loss of synchronization. These effects may determine lasing dynamics of interacting exciton-polariton condensation centers.