Project description
Exploring polariton interactions in 2D electron systems
Funded by the European Research Council, the POLTDES project will investigate the coupling of itinerant electrons to cavity polaritons – fascinating quasiparticles providing a rich playground for studying non-equilibrium condensation and superfluidity. Researchers will explore the complex interplay between cavity polaritons and strongly correlated states in a 2D electron gas. They will seek to achieve polariton-mediated superconductivity and investigate polaritonic signatures of electronic states exhibiting topological order. By harnessing electron-polariton coupling, researchers will enhance polariton-polariton interactions and venture into the polariton blockage regime – where two polaritons are prevented from occupying the same state. This advancement should enable the exploration of non-equilibrium strongly interacting polaritons.
Objective
Reversible coupling of excitons and photons in a microcavity leads to the formation of mixed light-matter quasiparticles, called cavity-polaritons. Weakly interacting polaritons constitute a rich system for studying nonequilibrium condensation and superfluidity. While exciton-polaritons have been studied mostly in intrinsic semiconductors with no free electrons, two-dimensional modulation-doped semiconductors with strong interactions between electrons have played a central role in unravelling many-body physics using transport. In this project, we combine these two fields of research and explore the complex interplay between cavity-polaritons and strongly correlated states of two dimensional electrons embedded inside microcavities. Our principal objective is the realization of polariton mediated superconductivity of electrons in gallium arsenide. Besides demonstrating a new mechanism for Cooper-pair formation, such an observation could revolutionize the search for systems that exhibit topological order. In a reciprocal approach, we will exploit the many-body nature of optical excitations in a two-dimensional electron gas to enhance polariton-polariton interactions. This will allow us to reach the polariton blockade regime, paving the way for realization of nonequilibrium strongly interacting polaritons. In parallel, we will explore cavity-magneto-polariton excitations out of fractional quantum Hall ground states: the objective in this part is to use the strong filling factor dependence of polariton splitting to realize nonlinear optical devices which derive their photon-photon interaction from light-absorption induced transition between compressible and incompressible ground states. Concurrently, we will study charged-exciton-polaritons in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides positioned inside a microcavity, where a large polariton Berry-curvature allows for the observation of valley Hall effect and could be used to realize topological polaritons.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicselectromagnetism
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrypost-transition metals
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsspectroscopyabsorption spectroscopy
- natural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicssuperconductivity
- natural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsphotons
Programme(s)
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
ERC-ADG - Advanced GrantHost institution
8092 Zuerich
Switzerland