Vortices in nonequilibrium photon condensates

TL;DR

This paper theoretically investigates vortices in photon condensate arrays, revealing how pumping and losses influence vortex core size, shape, and nucleation, with similarities and differences compared to polariton condensates.

Contribution

It introduces a novel theoretical framework for understanding vortices in photon condensates, highlighting effects of pumping and tunneling on vortex properties.

Findings

Vortex core size is set by pumping and tunneling balance.

Vortices exhibit oblate cores in the direction of motion.

Spontaneous vortex pair nucleation can occur in the core region.

Abstract

We present a theoretical study of vortices in arrays of photon condensates. Even when interactions are negligible, as is the case in current experiments, pumping and losses can lead to a finite vortex core size. While some properties of photon condensate vortices, such as their self-acceleration and the generation of vortex pairs by a moving vortex, resemble those in interacting polariton condensates far from equilibrium, in several aspects they differ from previously studied systems: the vortex core size is determined by the balance between pumping and tunneling, the core appears oblate in the direction of its motion and new vortex pairs can spontaneously nucleate in the core region.