Persistent, controllable circulation of a polariton ring condensate

Qi Yao; Paolo Comaron; Hassan Alnatah; Jonathan Beaumariage; Shouvik Mukherjee; Ken West; Loren Pfeiffer; Kirk Baldwin; Marzena H. Szymańska; David Snoke

doi:10.1364/OPTICA.560627

Persistent, controllable circulation of a polariton ring condensate

Qi Yao
, Paolo Comaron
, Hassan Alnatah
, Jonathan Beaumariage
, Shouvik Mukherjee
, Ken West
, Loren Pfeiffer
, Kirk Baldwin
, Marzena H. Szymańska
, David Snoke

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Persistent circulation is a canonical effect of superfluidity. In previous experiments, quantized circulation has been observed in polariton condensates, usually far from equilibrium, but persistent current in the absence of any stirring has not been seen. We report here the direct observation of persistent circulation of a polariton condensate with no driving force and with no observable change in time. We can cause the condensate to circulate in either direction on demand using a short laser pulse, after which the condensate continues to circulate for dozens to hundreds of rotations around a ring trap without any further stimulation. Our theoretical model successfully shows how the pulse, despite not carrying any angular momentum, causes circulation.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	991-996
Number of pages	6
Journal	Optica
Volume	12
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1364/OPTICA.560627
State	Published - Jul 20 2025
Externally published	Yes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

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10.1364/OPTICA.560627

Cite this

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title = "Persistent, controllable circulation of a polariton ring condensate",

abstract = "Persistent circulation is a canonical effect of superfluidity. In previous experiments, quantized circulation has been observed in polariton condensates, usually far from equilibrium, but persistent current in the absence of any stirring has not been seen. We report here the direct observation of persistent circulation of a polariton condensate with no driving force and with no observable change in time. We can cause the condensate to circulate in either direction on demand using a short laser pulse, after which the condensate continues to circulate for dozens to hundreds of rotations around a ring trap without any further stimulation. Our theoretical model successfully shows how the pulse, despite not carrying any angular momentum, causes circulation.",

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T1 - Persistent, controllable circulation of a polariton ring condensate

AU - Yao, Qi

AU - Comaron, Paolo

AU - Alnatah, Hassan

AU - Beaumariage, Jonathan

AU - Mukherjee, Shouvik

AU - West, Ken

AU - Pfeiffer, Loren

AU - Baldwin, Kirk

AU - Szymańska, Marzena H.

AU - Snoke, David

PY - 2025/7/20

Y1 - 2025/7/20

N2 - Persistent circulation is a canonical effect of superfluidity. In previous experiments, quantized circulation has been observed in polariton condensates, usually far from equilibrium, but persistent current in the absence of any stirring has not been seen. We report here the direct observation of persistent circulation of a polariton condensate with no driving force and with no observable change in time. We can cause the condensate to circulate in either direction on demand using a short laser pulse, after which the condensate continues to circulate for dozens to hundreds of rotations around a ring trap without any further stimulation. Our theoretical model successfully shows how the pulse, despite not carrying any angular momentum, causes circulation.

AB - Persistent circulation is a canonical effect of superfluidity. In previous experiments, quantized circulation has been observed in polariton condensates, usually far from equilibrium, but persistent current in the absence of any stirring has not been seen. We report here the direct observation of persistent circulation of a polariton condensate with no driving force and with no observable change in time. We can cause the condensate to circulate in either direction on demand using a short laser pulse, after which the condensate continues to circulate for dozens to hundreds of rotations around a ring trap without any further stimulation. Our theoretical model successfully shows how the pulse, despite not carrying any angular momentum, causes circulation.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105011512010

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105011512010#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.1364/OPTICA.560627

DO - 10.1364/OPTICA.560627

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105011512010

SN - 2334-2536

VL - 12

SP - 991

EP - 996

JO - Optica

JF - Optica

IS - 7

ER -

Persistent, controllable circulation of a polariton ring condensate

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

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