Controlling Coherent Light-Matter Interactions in Semiconductors

Light-matter interactions are at the heart of quantum electrodynamics and underpin modern photonic technologies. As we develop means to control the properties of light, matter and their interactions, intriguing new phenomena emerge. Using the mature, III-Arsenide semiconductor system, we build a designer cavity platform of polaritons ¹. With it, we demonstrate a shot-noise limited polariton lasers with strong nonlinearities ² and a Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer like polariton condensate ³. Coupling two trapped polariton condensates through both coherent tunneling and incoherent dissipation, we form a model system of rich nonlinear dynamics where new, equidistant frequency lines emerge due to limit cycle self-oscillations ⁴. Extension to larger arrays together with the flexibility to engineer fundamental properties of the polaritons may enable the discovery and understanding of new quantum many-body states. Using two-dimensional van der Waals semiconductors, we establish coherent light-matter coupling in a variety of photonic structures with unprecedented freedom to engineer both the optical modes and excitonic properties ^5–7, which may enable new many-body phenomena and novel photonic device concepts.
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