Probing a dissipative phase transition via dynamical optical hysteresis

TL;DR

This paper experimentally investigates the dynamic optical hysteresis in a semiconductor microcavity, revealing a dissipative phase transition characterized by a change from double to single power law decay in hysteresis area as photon number increases.

Contribution

It demonstrates the first experimental observation of a dissipative phase transition via dynamical optical hysteresis in a semiconductor microcavity, aligning with theoretical predictions.

Findings

Hysteresis area shows double power law decay due to shot noise.

Increasing photon number transitions the decay to a single power law.

Results agree with theoretical models of dissipative phase transitions.

Abstract

We experimentally explore the dynamic optical hysteresis of a semiconductor microcavity as a function of the sweep time. The hysteresis area exhibits a double power law decay due to the shot noise of the driving laser, which triggers switching between metastable states. Upon increasing the average photon number and approaching the thermodynamic limit, the double power law evolves into a single power law. This algebraic behavior characterizes a dissipative phase transition. Our findings are in good agreement with theoretical predictions, and the present experimental approach is promising for the exploration of critical phenomena in photonic lattices.