Published July 15, 2009 | Version v1
Journal article

Exciton-polariton condensation in a natural two-dimensional trap

  • 1. LASMEA, CNRS and University Blaise Pascal, 24 Avenue des Landais, 63177 Aubiere Cedex (France)
  • 2. CEA-CNRS, Institut Neel-CNRS, Boite Postale 166, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9 (France)
  • 3. Departamento de Fisica de Materiales, Universidad Autonoma, E28049 Madrid (Spain)

Description

Bose-Einstein condensation of exciton polaritons has recently been reported in homogeneous structures only affected by random in-plane fluctuations. We have taken advantage of the ubiquitous defects in semiconductor microcavities to reveal the spontaneous dynamical condensation of polaritons in the quantized levels of a trap. We observe condensation in several quantized states, taking their snapshots in real and reciprocal space. We also show the effect of particle interactions for high occupation numbers, revealed by a change in the confined wave function toward the Thomas-Fermi profile.

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Journal Volume
80
Journal Issue
4
Journal Page Range
p. 045301-045301.6
ISSN
1098-0121

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2009 The American Physical Society