Artificial polariton molecules

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that geometrically coupled polariton condensates can be engineered to simulate artificial molecules with controllable properties, including various oscillatory and stationary states, by adjusting their number and geometry.

Contribution

It introduces a method to create and control artificial polariton molecules with specific characteristics using semiconductor device fabrication.

Findings

Controlled oscillatory and stationary states in polariton dimers, trimers, and tetrads.

Spectral lines associated with oscillatory states can be tuned by geometry.

Asymmetric states combine discrete and continuous degrees of freedom.

Abstract

We show that geometrically coupled polariton condensates fabricated in semiconductor devices are versatile systems capable of simulating molecules with given characteristics. In particular, we consider oscillatory and stationary symmetric and asymmetric states in polariton dimers, trimers, and tetrads and their luminosity in real and Fourier space. The spectral weights of oscillatory states are associated with discrete spectral lines. Their number and separation can be controlled by changing the number and geometry of condensates, reflected by the coupling strengths. We also show that asymmetric stationary states combine discrete and continuous degrees of freedom in one system. The continuous degree of freedom is represented by the phase while the discrete degree of freedom is given by density asymmetry. Our work paves the way to engineer controllable artificial molecules with a range of properties manufactured on demand.