Available student project - Non-equilibrium quantum condensation of microcavity exciton polaritons

Research fields

Wavefunction of an exciton-polariton condensate trapped in an optically-induced chaotic billiard potential. This system was used in our lab to demonstrate the non-Hermitian properties of polariton condensates [Gao et al., Nature 526, 554 (2015)]

Project details

Exciton polaritons are bosonic composite particles that are part light and part matter. They are composed of photons and excitons (electron/hole pairs) forming in semiconductor microcavities in the strong light-matter interaction regime. Akin to ultracold neutral bosonic atoms, polaritons can undergo Bose-Einstein condensation. In a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), millions of bosons occupy a single quantum mechanical state and display collective quantum behaviour, thus bringing the quantum physics onto the macroscopic scale. As one of  the most sensitive and controllable quantum systems, a BEC has applications ranging from precision measurement sensors and metrology standards, through to tests of the fundamentals of quantum mechanics.

The exciton-polariton BEC has many similarities with the BEC of neutral atoms, but can be obtained at both cryogenic and room temperatures in a solid state. Observation of the first exciton-polariton BEC in 2006 has prompted the emergence of polaritonics – a new field of optoelectronics that employs collective quantum effects in solid state, cost-effective devices.

The ANU Polariton BEC group and laboratory conducts both experimental and theoretical studies of fundamental properties of exciton-polariton condensates and their manipulation by structured pumping and external potentials. Students joining the group can be involved in the following lines of investigation:

Further information

Required background

Students interested in either theory or experiment are encouraged to apply.

Project suitability

This research project can be tailored to suit students of the following type(s)

Contact supervisor

Ostrovskaya, Elena profile

Other supervisor(s)

Truscott, Andrew  profile