Thomas Boulier

Half-solitons in a polariton quantum fluid behave like magnetic monopoles

An analogue of a magnetic monopole is now observed in a condensed state of light–matter hybrid particles known as cavity polaritons. Spin-phase excitations of the polariton fluid are accelerated along the cavity under the influence of a magnetic field—just as if they were single magnetic charges.

Anomalous broadening in driven dissipative Rydberg systems

We observe interaction-induced broadening of the two-photon 5s-18s transition in ^{87}Rb atoms trapped in a 3D optical lattice. The measured linewidth increases by nearly 2 orders of magnitude with increasing atomic density and excitation strength, with corresponding suppression of resonant scattering and enhancement of off-resonant scattering. We attribute the increased linewidth to resonant dipole-dipole interactions of 18s atoms with blackbody induced population in nearby np states. Over a range of initial atomic densities and excitation strengths, the transition width is described by a single function of the steady-state density of Rydberg atoms, and the observed resonant excitation rate corresponds to that of a two-level system with the measured, rather than natural, linewidth. The broadening mechanism observed here is likely to have negative implications for many proposals with coherently interacting Rydberg atoms.

Polariton-generated intensity squeezing in semiconductor micropillars

The generation of squeezed and entangled light fields is a crucial ingredient for the implementation of quantum information protocols. In this context, semiconductor materials offer a strong potential for the implementation of on-chip devices operating at the quantum level. Here we demonstrate a novel source of continuous variable squeezed light in pillar-shaped semiconductor microcavities in the strong coupling regime. Degenerate polariton four-wave mixing is obtained by exciting the pillar at normal incidence. We observe a bistable behaviour and we demonstrate the generation of squeezing near the turning point of the bistability curve. The confined pillar geometry allows for a larger amount of squeezing than planar microcavities due to the discrete energy levels protected from excess noise. By analysing the noise of the emitted light, we obtain a measured intensity squeezing of 20.3%, inferred to be 35.8% after corrections.

Interaction-shaped vortex-antivortex lattices in polariton fluids

This work has been partially funded by the Quandyde project of the ANR France, by the PO-LATOM ESF Research Network Program and by the CLERMONT4 Network Progam. FMM acknowledges - financial support from the programs Ramon y Cajal and Intelbiomat (ESF) and MHS from the EPSRC (grant EP/I028900/1). A. B. is member of Institut Universitaire de France (IUF)

Vortex Chain in a Resonantly Pumped Polariton Superfluid

Exciton-polaritons are light-matter mixed states interacting via their exciton fraction. They can be excited, manipulated, and detected using all the versatile techniques of modern optics. An exciton-polariton gas is therefore a unique platform to study out-of-equilibrium interacting quantum fluids. In this work, we report the formation of a ring-shaped array of same sign vortices after injection of angular momentum in a polariton superfluid. The angular momentum is injected by a ℓ = 8 Laguerre-Gauss beam. In the linear regime, a spiral interference pattern containing phase defects is visible. In the nonlinear (superfluid) regime, the interference disappears and eight vortices appear, minimizing the energy while conserving the quantized angular momentum. The radial position of the vortices evolves in the region between the two pumps as a function of the density. Hydrodynamic instabilities resulting in the spontaneous nucleation of vortex-antivortex pairs when the system size is sufficiently large confirm that the vortices are not constrained by interference when nonlinearities dominate the system.

Injection of Orbital Angular Momentum and Storage of Quantized Vortices in Polariton Superfluids

We report the experimental investigation and theoretical modeling of a rotating polariton superfluid relying on an innovative method for the injection of angular momentum. This novel, multipump injection method uses four coherent lasers arranged in a square, resonantly creating four polariton populations propagating inwards. The control available over the direction of propagation of the superflows allows injecting a controllable nonquantized amount of optical angular momentum. When the density at the center is low enough to neglect polariton-polariton interactions, optical singularities, associated with an interference pattern, are visible in the phase. In the superfluid regime resulting from the strong nonlinear polariton-polariton interaction, the interference pattern disappears and only vortices with the same sign are persisting in the system. Remarkably, the number of vortices inside the superfluid region can be controlled by controlling the angular momentum injected by the pumps.

Merging of vortices and antivortices in polariton superfluids

Quantized vortices are remarkable manifestations on a macroscopic scale of the coherent nature of quantum fluids, and the study of their properties is of fundamental importance for the understanding of this peculiar state of matter. Cavity polaritons, due to their double light-matter nature, offer a unique controllable environment to investigate these properties. In this paper we theoretically investigate the possibility to deterministically achieve the annihilation of a vortex with an antivortex through an increase of the polariton density in the region surrounding the vortices. Moreover, we demonstrate that by means of this mechanism an array of vortex-antivortex pairs can be completely washed out.

Coherent merging of counter-propagating exciton-polariton superfluids

We report the formation of a macroscopic coherent state emerging from colliding polariton fluids. Four lasers with random relative phases, arranged in a square, pump resonantly a planar microcavity, creating four coherent polariton fluids propagating toward each other. When the density (interactions) increases, the four fluids synchronise and the topological excitations (vortex or soliton) disappear to form a single superfluid.

Orbital angular momentum injection in a polariton superfluid.

We report a new method for injecting angular momentum in a polariton superfluid. Rather than stirring, such as what is done in atomic BECs, we resonantly inject a ring-shaped rotating superfluid in a planar semiconductor cavity. The resonant injection avoids any significant exciton populations and ensures a high level of control in the system. A Spatial Light Modulator is used to create a Laguerre-Gaussian laser beam that pumps the system and creates a rotating polariton population. By using a ℓ = 8 Laguerre-Gaussian mode we have studied the steady-state condition for observing the nucleation of angular momentum in freely propagating polaritons at the center. We find that, likely due to the fixed border conditions, the angular momentum in weak cavity disorder areas does not spontaneously nucleates at the center, and we observe a single ℓ = 8 vortex. For larger cavity disorder vortex-antivortex pairs can nucleate and we present numerical simulations that explain the role of this disorder to observe such a nucleation.