Theory of trapped polaritons in patterned microcavities

TL;DR

This paper develops a linear coupling theory for polaritons in patterned microcavities, predicting confined and continuum states with specific energy spectra, enhancing understanding of polariton behavior in microstructured environments.

Contribution

It introduces a novel theoretical framework for analyzing trapped polaritons in microcavities with patterned mesas, including calculations of eigenstates and optical spectra.

Findings

Existence of laterally confined polariton states with discrete energies

Presence of continuum states above the mesa potential barrier

Predicted optical spectra corresponding to these states

Abstract

We consider the system of a quantum well embedded in a planar semiconductor microcavity with a shallow circular mesa patterned on top of the cavity spacer. For this system we develop the linear coupling theory of polaritons. We then compute polariton eigenstates and the corresponding optical spectrum. The theory predicts the existence of laterally confined polariton states with a discrete energy spectrum, as well as continuum states above the finite mesa potential barrier.