Dynamically Stable Vortices in Exciton-Polariton Condensates Engineered by Repulsive Interactions

TL;DR

This study investigates how binary and three-body interactions influence the stability and formation of vortices in exciton-polariton condensates, revealing conditions that support stable vortex pairs versus those leading to vortex disintegration.

Contribution

It provides an analytical and numerical framework for understanding vortex stability in exciton-polariton condensates considering complex interactions, highlighting the stabilizing role of repulsive three-body interactions.

Findings

Repulsive three-body interactions support stable vortex-antivortex pairs.

Attractive three-body interactions induce snake instability and vortex disintegration.

Boundary effects significantly influence vortex stability, especially with attractive interactions.

Abstract

We present an analytical and numerical study of the dynamics and stability of exciton-polariton condensates described by the open-dissipative Gross-Pitaevskii equation, incorporating both binary and short-range three-body interactions. Using an asymptotic description, we identify the parameter regime and derive equations for the instability amplitude, providing insights into vortex formation via the snake instability of dark solitons. We find that a repulsive three-body interaction, when combined with a binary interaction, supports stable vortex-antivortex pair formation. On the other hand, the reinforcement of attractive three-body interactions with binary interaction triggers the emergence of snake instability, leading to boundary-driven vortex disintegration. The time evolution of the instability under the influence of reservoir effects indicates that the boundary effects are more pronounced, to the extent of destabilizing the vortices with attractive three-body interactions compared to repulsive three-body interactions, thereby underscoring the stable nature of vortices in the repulsive domain.