Density Distribution of a Bose-Einstein Condensate of Photons in a Dye-Filled Microcavity

TL;DR

This paper reports measurements of photon density distribution in a dye-filled microcavity, confirming theoretical predictions of Bose-Einstein condensation behavior in a two-dimensional harmonic trap.

Contribution

It provides experimental radial profiles of photons in a microcavity, validating theoretical models of photon Bose-Einstein condensation.

Findings

Good agreement with theoretical density profiles

Observation of distribution changes across the critical point

Enhanced understanding of photon BEC in microcavities

Abstract

The achievement of Bose-Einstein condensation of photons (phBEC) in a dye-filled microcavity has led to a renewed interest in the density distribution of the ideal Bose gas in a two-dimensional harmonic oscillator. We present measurements of the radial profile of photons inside the microcavity below and above the critical point for phBEC with a good signal-to-noise ratio. We obtain a good agreement with theoretical profiles obtained using exact summation of eigenstates.