Spatial correlations and topological defects in non-equilibrium polariton superfluids

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• Dr Marzena Szymanska, Warwick U
• Thursday 17 May 2012, 13:45-15:00
• Theory Library.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Dr Dimitri M Gangardt.

Since the first realisation of microcavity polariton condensate in 2006 these strongly coupled light matter-systems have been extensively used to explore a variety of out of equilibrium quantum collective phenomena. I will discuss some of the most recent developments in this rapidly growing field. In particular, I will show that the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT)- like phase order i.e. the power law decay of spatial correlations is not an artifact of equilibrium two-dimensional condensates, but survives more generally in a non-equilibrium context. Experimental observation of the larger value of the coefficient of that power-law that is possible in equilibrium indicates that BKT -like ordered phase is in fact more robust against noise than in equilibrium. Further, I will show that despite the fact that polariton superfluid does violate the Landau criterion, it supports persistent currents and quantised vortices, which are the paradigmatical properties of equilibrium superfluids. We identify those defects which confirm the “super” nature of the fluid, and those which arise purely due to the dissipative and driven environment of the polariton system. I will conclude with the open questions in the field.

This talk is part of the Theoretical Physics Seminars series.

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