Oscillatory dynamics of non-equilibrium dissipative exciton-polariton condensates in weak-contrast lattices

TL;DR

This paper investigates the complex nonlinear and oscillatory behaviors of exciton-polariton condensates in weak-contrast lattices, revealing stable Josephson-like oscillations and the impact of dissipation and reservoir feedback.

Contribution

It introduces a mean-field framework to analyze non-equilibrium polariton dynamics in periodic potentials, highlighting stable oscillations and the effects of dissipation and reservoir feedback.

Findings

Identification of relaxation and oscillatory regimes of polaritons.

Theoretical demonstration of stable Josephson-like oscillations.

Influence of dissipation and reservoir feedback on dynamics.

Abstract

We study nonlinear dynamics of exciton-polaritons in an incoherently pumped semiconductor microcavity with embedded weak-contrast lattice and coupled to an exciton reservoir. We elucidate fundamental features of non-equilibrium exciton-polariton condensate trapped in one-dimensional periodical potential close to zero momentum (so-called "Zero-state") and to the state at the boundary of Brillouin zone ("$\pi$-state"). Within the framework of the mean-field theory, we identify different regimes of both relaxation and oscillatory dynamics of coherent exciton-polaritons governed by superpositions of Bloch eigenstates within the periodic lattice. In particular, we theoretically demonstrate stable macroscopical oscillations, akin to nonlinear Josephson oscillations, between different spectral components of a polariton condensate in the momenta-space. We elucidate a strong influence of the dissipative effects and the feedback induced by the inhomogeneity of incoherent reservoir on the dynamics of the coherent polaritons.