Observation of non-Hermitian degeneracies in a chaotic exciton-polariton billiard
dc.contributor.author | Gao, Tiejun | |
dc.contributor.author | Estrecho, Eliezer (Eli) | |
dc.contributor.author | Bliokh, Konstantin | |
dc.contributor.author | Liew, T.C.H. | |
dc.contributor.author | Fraser, Michael | |
dc.contributor.author | Brodbeck, Sebastian | |
dc.contributor.author | Kamp, Martin | |
dc.contributor.author | Schneider, Christian | |
dc.contributor.author | Hofling, Sven | |
dc.contributor.author | Yamamoto, Y. | |
dc.contributor.author | Nori, Franco | |
dc.contributor.author | Truscott, Andrew | |
dc.contributor.author | Dall, Robert | |
dc.contributor.author | Ostrovskaya, Elena | |
dc.contributor.author | Kivshar, Yuri | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2016-06-14T23:20:20Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2015 | |
dc.date.updated | 2016-06-14T08:48:14Z | |
dc.description.abstract | Exciton-polaritons are hybrid light-matter quasiparticles formed by strongly interacting photons and excitons (electron-hole pairs) in semiconductor microcavities. They have emerged as a robust solid-state platform for next-generation optoelectronic applications as well as for fundamental studies of quantum many-body physics. Importantly, exciton-polaritons are a profoundly open (that is, non-Hermitian) quantum system, which requires constant pumping of energy and continuously decays, releasing coherent radiation. Thus, the exciton-polaritons always exist in a balanced potential landscape of gain and loss. However, the inherent non-Hermitian nature of this potential has so far been largely ignored in exciton-polariton physics. Here we demonstrate that non-Hermiticity dramatically modifies the structure of modes and spectral degeneracies in exciton-polariton systems, and, therefore, will affect their quantum transport, localization and dynamical properties. Using a spatially structured optical pump, we create a chaotic exciton-polariton billiard-a two-dimensional area enclosed by a curved potential barrier. Eigenmodes of this billiard exhibit multiple non-Hermitian spectral degeneracies, known as exceptional points. Such points can cause remarkable wave phenomena, such as unidirectional transport, anomalous lasing/absorption and chiral modes. By varying parameters of the billiard, we observe crossing and anti-crossing of energy levels and reveal the non-trivial topological modal structure exclusive to non-Hermitian systems. We also observe mode switching and a topological Berry phase for a parameter loop encircling the exceptional point. Our findings pave the way to studies of non-Hermitian quantum dynamics of exciton-polaritons, which may uncover novel operating principles for polariton-based devices. | |
dc.identifier.issn | 0028-0836 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/1885/103329 | |
dc.publisher | Macmillan Publishers Ltd | |
dc.source | Nature | |
dc.title | Observation of non-Hermitian degeneracies in a chaotic exciton-polariton billiard | |
dc.type | Journal article | |
local.bibliographicCitation.issue | 7574 | |
local.bibliographicCitation.lastpage | 558 | |
local.bibliographicCitation.startpage | 554 | |
local.contributor.affiliation | Gao, Tiejun, College of Engineering and Computer Science, ANU | |
local.contributor.affiliation | Estrecho, Eliezer (Eli), College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, ANU | |
local.contributor.affiliation | Bliokh, Konstantin, College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, ANU | |
local.contributor.affiliation | Liew, T.C.H., Nanyang Technological University | |
local.contributor.affiliation | Fraser, Michael, College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, ANU | |
local.contributor.affiliation | Brodbeck, Sebastian , Technische Physik and Wilhelm-Conrad-Röntgen Research Center for Complex Material Systems | |
local.contributor.affiliation | Kamp, Martin, University of Wurzburg | |
local.contributor.affiliation | Schneider, Christian, Technische Physik and Wilhelm-Conrad-Röntgen Research Center for Complex Material Systems | |
local.contributor.affiliation | Hofling, Sven, Universitat Wurzburg | |
local.contributor.affiliation | Yamamoto, Y., Japan Science and Technology Agency | |
local.contributor.affiliation | Nori, Franco, University of Michigan | |
local.contributor.affiliation | Kivshar, Yuri, College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, ANU | |
local.contributor.affiliation | Truscott, Andrew, College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, ANU | |
local.contributor.affiliation | Dall, Robert, College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, ANU | |
local.contributor.affiliation | Ostrovskaya, Elena, College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, ANU | |
local.contributor.authoremail | u4933469@anu.edu.au | |
local.contributor.authoruid | Gao, Tiejun, u4933469 | |
local.contributor.authoruid | Estrecho, Eliezer (Eli), u5644644 | |
local.contributor.authoruid | Bliokh, Konstantin, u4572145 | |
local.contributor.authoruid | Fraser, Michael, u2524674 | |
local.contributor.authoruid | Kivshar, Yuri, u9307695 | |
local.contributor.authoruid | Truscott, Andrew, u4040705 | |
local.contributor.authoruid | Dall, Robert, u9901796 | |
local.contributor.authoruid | Ostrovskaya, Elena, u9510052 | |
local.description.embargo | 2037-12-31 | |
local.description.notes | Imported from ARIES | |
local.identifier.absfor | 020501 - Classical and Physical Optics | |
local.identifier.absseo | 970102 - Expanding Knowledge in the Physical Sciences | |
local.identifier.ariespublication | U3488905xPUB6556 | |
local.identifier.citationvolume | 526 | |
local.identifier.doi | 10.1038/nature15522 | |
local.identifier.scopusID | 2-s2.0-84944750173 | |
local.identifier.uidSubmittedBy | U3488905 | |
local.type.status | Published Version |