Nonresonant spin selection methods and polarization control in exciton-polariton condensates

Abstract

Bosonic condensates of exciton-polaritons are characterized by a well-defined pseudospin, which makes them attractive for quantum information schemes and spintronic applications, as well as the exploration of synthetic spin-orbit coupling. However, precise polarization control of coherent polariton condensates under nonresonant injection, the most important ingredient for such advanced studies, still remains a core challenge. Here, we address this problem and demonstrate unprecedented control of the pseudospin of an exciton-polariton condensate. The ultrafast stimulated scattering process allows the observation of completely spin-polarized condensates under highly nonresonant, circularly polarized excitation. This conservation of spin population translates, in the case of linearly polarized excitation, into an elliptically polarized emission. The degree of ellipticity can be controlled by varying the exciton-photon detuning and condensate density. Additionally, cavity engineering allows us to generate completely linearly polarized condensates with a deterministically chosen orientation. Our findings are of fundamental importance for the engineering and design of polaritonic devices that harness the spinor degree of freedom, such as chiral lasers, spin switches, and polaritonic topological insulator circuits.