Switching waves in multi-level incoherently driven polariton condensates

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates theoretically that incoherently driven polariton condensates in a trap exhibit bistability between modes, with switching controllable by pulsing, advancing low-power opto-electronic device development.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of mode bistability and switching in polariton condensates driven by incoherent pumping, highlighting a new mechanism for controlling polariton states.

Findings

Bistability exists between odd and even modes of the condensate.

Switching can be achieved via incoherent pulsing.

Modulational instability drives the mode transitions.

Abstract

We show theoretically that an open-dissipative polariton condensate confined within a trapping potential and driven by an incoherent pumping scheme gives rise to bistability between odd and even modes of the potential. Switching from one state to the other can be controlled via incoherent pulsing which becomes an important step towards construction of low-powered opto-electronic devices. The origin of the effect comes from modulational instability between odd and even states of the trapping potential governed by the nonlinear polariton-polariton interactions.