Vorticity of polariton condensates in rotating traps

TL;DR

This paper theoretically investigates vortex formation in exciton-polariton condensates within rotating traps, highlighting the role of mode competition and nonlinear effects in the dynamics of stationary states near the lasing threshold.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical analysis of vortex formation dynamics in polariton condensates, emphasizing the impact of mode competition and nonlinear effects, which was not thoroughly explored before.

Findings

Mode competition critically influences vortex properties.

Near the lasing threshold, nonlinear effects mainly saturate linear gain.

Linear and nonlinear effects interplay creates unique polariton dynamics.

Abstract

This work is inspired by recent experiments on the formation of vortices in exciton-polariton condensates placed in rotating optical traps. We study theoretically the dynamics of formation of such vortices and elucidate the fundamental role of the mode competition effect in determining the properties of stationary polariton states triggered by stimulated scattering of exciton-polaritons. The interplay between linear and non-linear effects is shown to result in a peculiar polariton dynamics. However, near the lasing threshold, the predominant contribution of the nonlinear effects is the saturation of the linear gain.