Topological turbulence in spin-orbit-coupled driven-dissipative quantum fluids of light generates high angular momentum states

TL;DR

This paper reports the creation of high angular momentum turbulent states in spin-orbit-coupled exciton-polariton quantum fluids, revealing vortex dynamics and instabilities influenced by system parameters, with potential for experimental observation.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to generate and analyze high angular momentum turbulence in driven-dissipative quantum fluids of light with spin-orbit coupling.

Findings

Formation of turbulent vortex gas with high angular momentum.

Instability leading to bogolon generation at finite wave vector.

Ring-like domain structures influenced by cavity size and SOC.

Abstract

We demonstrate the formation of a high angular momentum turbulent state in an exciton-polariton quantum fluid with TE-TM Spin-Orbit Coupling (SOC). The transfer of particles from quasi-resonantly cw pumped \spl component to \sm component is accompanied with the generation of a turbulent gas of quantum vortices by inhomogeneities. We show that this system is unstable with respect to the formation of bogolons at a finite wave vector, controlled by the laser detuning. In a finite-size cavity, the domains with this wave vector form a ring-like structure along the border of a cavity, with a gas of mostly same-sign vortices in the center. The total angular momentum is imposed by the sign of TE-TM SOC, the wave vector of instability, and the cavity size. This effect can be detected experimentally via local dispersion measurements or by interference. The proposed configuration thus allows simultaneous experimental studies of quantum turbulence and high-angular momentum states in continuously-pumped exciton-polariton condensates.