Nonlinear Polaritonics
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Polariton potential DR ELENA OSTROVSKAYA Dr Elena Ostrovskaya discusses her role in establishing Australia’s first research programme in theoretical and experimental polaritonics and the exciting new developments currently underway in the field Can you discuss some of the most significant local support for both theory and important technological benefits to have experiment. The ANU also hosts a node of resulted from the field’s development, the Australian National Fabrication Facility, elaborating on the key objectives of your which enables customised post-processing of current project? experimental samples. The development of polaritonics has so far How does your collaboration with Dr focused on proof-of-principle demonstrations Robert Dall help lead this work? of devices that explore the unique properties of polaritonics that stem from their hybrid Dr Robert Dall is a highly skilled and very light-matter nature. These devices explore experienced experimentalist in the field of ultrafast polariton velocities that are close ultracold atomic physics and a driving force to those of photons, high nonlinearities behind the experimental development of inherited from excitons, and spin degrees the project. We work as a team, with Dall of freedom. running the experiments, me providing theory support and guidance, and both of us equally My project focuses on both fundamental contributing to the strategic planning of the and applied aspects of the exciton-polariton research programme. What initially drew you to the field BEC inside semiconductor microcavities. of polaritonics? The theoretical and experimental goals Robert Dall’s previous experience is in are twofold: first and foremost, we plan building the most sophisticated apparatus My PhD research was in the field of theoretical to create tailored polariton BEC systems for Bose condensing metastable Helium and nonlinear optics and photonics, and I that will enable us to probe into several experiments on Helium BECs. He became have extensive expertise in this area. After fundamental problems of modern physics, interested in polaritonics around two or three completing my PhD, I was drawn to the topic namely emergent properties of non- years ago and is enthusiastic about the new of Bose–Einstein condensation of ultracold equilibrium systems, dissipative superfluidity possibilities offered by this physical system. atoms due to the interesting and, at the time, and quantum turbulence. Second, we seek little explored parallels between the nonlinear to identify and characterise novel properties You are aiming to create the first state-of- physics of coherent light and matter waves. of polariton BECs that can be potentially the-art experimental facility in Australia Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs) offer a harnessed in semiconductor microcavity dedicated to research in polaritonics. How possibility to create, probe and manipulate a devices for emission and control of coherent far along are you in realising this vision? quantum mechanical state on a macroscopic light, and bring new functionality to the next scale, and I found this window into the generation of optoelectronic devices for use Within the past year, with help from our quantum world fascinating. in optical integrated circuits, classical and collaborators (Dr M Fraser, Professor S quantum logic elements, optical switches and HÖfling and Dr C Schneider), this vision has In recent years I became aware of the progress spin-memory elements. become a reality. The experimental facility in polaritonics, which transfers the physics is currently up and running and we are now of Bose–Einstein condensation from the What makes the Australian National able to focus on physics rather than on highly demanding environment of ultracold University (ANU) particularly well placed building an apparatus. There will be essential temperatures and ultrahigh vacuum to a much for research on polaritonics? modifications and improvements that will less formidable setting of well-developed take place with every new experiment, but semiconductor technology and cryogenic The ANU is an ideal place to host the the core of the facility is in place. Our next or even room temperatures. Apart from the polaritonics project because of the combined goal is to expand the polaritonics research possibility to explore the fundamental physics cross-disciplinary expertise of the people in Australia, involving more people across of condensates in a much more accessible involved. In particular, our team has a lot institutions. In particular, we have initiated physical system, polaritonics offers a new of experience in nonlinear and singular discussions with Professor Matthew Davis of platform for novel optoelectronic devices for optics and physics of quantum degenerate Queensland University in the hope to expand emitting and controlling light, and my interest gases. The other important factors are the the research programme on non-equilibrium lies in its potential technological applications. already existing infrastructure and the properties of polariton condensates. 10 INTERNATIONAL INNOVATION DR ELENA OSTROVSKAYA Harnessing half-light half-matter A collaborative team at the Australian National University has developed the country’s fi rst experimental facility dedicated to polaritonics, putting Australia on the map of this rapidly expanding fi eld IT IS DIFFICULT to overestimate the fundamental aspects of the polariton BEC. In understanding role optoelectronics plays in an increasing range how to control, structure and manipulate their of modern technologies. As two-way optical- collective state in a semiconductor microcavity, electrical transducers, optoelectronic devices Ostrovskaya and Dall hope to continue unlocking can source, detect and control light within the the highly promising potential of polaritonics in electromagnetic spectrum all the way from driving forward next-generation optoelectronics. visible infrared and ultraviolet light to invisible gamma rays. Over time these properties have From the confl uence of semiconductor physics, enabled the development of diverse technologies optoelectronics, photonics and the fi eld of such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), solar cells BECs, the physical systems brought to life in and semiconductor lasers. Firmly entrenched polaritonics are born. It is natural, therefore, that in the cutting-edge and the everyday, one has Ostrovskaya’s work is a wide collaborative effort only to look as far as any wireless or fi bre optic tapping into many different areas of expertise, communication network to fi nd optoelectronic even more so given the very close interaction devices keeping the world ticking along. between the theoretical and experimental sides. Contributors from Germany, Japan, Singapore Recently, developments within the emerging fi eld and the UK are involved in designing and running of polaritonics have heralded the beginning of joint experiments at the ANU, the fabrication of a new era of optoelectronic devices. Stemming microcavities, and theoretical collaborations. from the physics of ultracold bosonic atoms, the arrival of polariton Bose–Einstein condensates THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS (BECs) has the potential to help create extremely sophisticated devices that outstrip their forebears The operation of polariton-based devices is in a variety of ways. A relatively new fi eld, reliant on the quantum mechanical effects of polaritonics is moving with such rapidity that it is light-matter interactions in semiconductor not yet fully represented across the international microcavities. Comprising millions of particles science community. Within just a few years, all forced into the same quantum state, BECs are however, Australia’s shortage of polaritonics one of the most controllable quantum systems expertise has improved dramatically with a we have access to and, due to their relatively dedicated exciton-polariton experimental facility large size for a quantum system, among the combined with a theory programme bringing the easiest to examine. In order to form a BEC from country to the fore. neutral atoms one needs access to an advanced apparatus able to achieve temperatures within a millionth of a degree of absolute zero. Polariton PROMISING POTENTIAL BECs, however, are not made from atoms. An Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellow at the Australian National University’s With semiconductor microcavities, collective (ANU) Nonlinear Physics Centre (NLPC), Dr Elena quantum effects can be produced at the interface Ostrovskaya is working closely with her colleague between light and matter. A photon trapped Dr Robert Dall, a Research Fellow at the NLPC and in such a microcavity bounces to and fro and ANU’s Atomic & Molecular Physics Laboratories, interacts with excitons to produce a new hybrid to study both the fundamental and applied particle that is part light and part matter. This Left: schematics of a chiral polaritonic lens showing the distribution of light intensity in a structured optical pump. Right: experimental image of a polariton vortex created by the lens. WWW.RESEARCHMEDIA.EU 11 INTELLIGENCE NONLINEAR POLARITONICS: HARNESSING COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOUR OF HALF-LIGHT HALF-MATTER OBJECTIVES • To create tailored polariton Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) systems to study the emergent properties of non-equilibrium systems, dissipative superfl uidity, and quantum turbulence • To identify and characterise novel properties of polariton BECs that can be potentially harnessed in semiconductor microcavity devices for emission