# Optical control of synchronous phases in a programmable polariton cell

## TL;DR

This paper demonstrates optical control over coupling phases in a polariton lattice, enabling simulation of various condensed matter phases by tuning interactions between microcavity exciton-polariton condensates.

## Contribution

It introduces a method to continuously and reversibly control coupling in a polariton lattice using optically imprinted potential barriers, allowing simulation of complex phases.

## Key findings

- Achieved deterministic control of nearest and next-nearest neighbor coupling.
- Realized ferromagnetic, anti-ferromagnetic, and paired ferromagnetic phases.
- Paved the way for simulating complex condensed matter phenomena.

## Abstract

We demonstrate deterministic control of the nearest and next-nearest neighbor coupling in the unit cell of a square lattice of microcavity exciton-polariton condensates. We tune the coupling in a continuous and reversible manner by optically imprinting potential barriers of variable height, in the form of spatially localized incoherent exciton reservoirs that modify the particle flow between condensates. By controlling the couplings in a $2\times2$ polariton cluster, we realize ferromagnetic, anti-ferromagnetic and paired ferromagnetic phases. Our approach paves the way towards simulating complex condensed matter phases through precise control of the individual couplings in networks of optical nonlinear oscillators.