Abstract
Using a sub-millimeter exciton-polariton waveguide suitable for integrated photonics, we experimentally demonstrate nonlinear modulation of pico-Joule pulses at the same time as amplification sufficient to compensate the system losses. By comparison with a numerical model we explain the observed interplay of gain and nonlinearity as amplification of the interacting polariton field by stimulated scattering from an incoherent continuous-wave reservoir that is depleted by the pulses. This combination of gain and giant ultrafast nonlinearity operating on picosecond pulses has the potential to open up new directions in low-power all-optical information processing and nonlinear photonic simulation of conservative and driven-dissipative systems.
Highlights
Exciton-polaritons are the quasiparticles formed by strong coupling of photons and quantum-well excitons [1]
A promising alternative to microcavities are polariton waveguides [9], where optical confinement is due to total internal reflection. They provide many advantages such as stronger photon-exciton coupling, longer propagation distances and considerably easier growth and fabrication. These aspects make them advantageous for applications in all-optical information processing where propagation speed and bandwidth are important and for photonic simulation where, because of the high longitudinal wavenumber, the propagation distance along the waveguide plays the role of time [10]
Several fundamental nonlinear optical phenomena such as bright [11] and dark [12] solitons have been observed in polariton waveguides
Summary
Exciton-polaritons are the quasiparticles formed by strong coupling of photons and quantum-well excitons [1] They combine photon-like propagation with giant effective χ(3) nonlinearity arising from interactions between their excitonic components. These properties have led to great interest in using polaritons for applications in photonics [2]. A promising alternative to microcavities are polariton waveguides [9], where optical confinement is due to total internal reflection. They provide many advantages such as stronger photon-exciton coupling, longer propagation distances and considerably easier growth and fabrication. Several fundamental nonlinear optical phenomena such as bright [11] and dark [12] solitons have been observed in polariton waveguides
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