Electrical controlled photon condensates in III/V semiconductor heterostructures

Since scientists created Bose-Einstein condensates in cold atoms for the first time, other platforms have been developed that also show this transition. These include, for example, thermalized photons in dye solutions, which were observed in optical resonators in 2010. Thermalization of the photons enables direct cooling of the condensates into microstructured potentials. What is still missing is the ability to dynamically control several of these condensates and couple them together. This would be important in order to utilize them in different ways for quantum technology.

In this project, we want to establish spatially structured semiconductor chips as a platform for the condensates. To do this, we are using semiconductor quantum well structures as an active medium on a highly reflective Bragg mirror. The lateral confinement of the photons is achieved either by shaping the mirrors or by structuring the semiconductor surface. The coupling between neighboring condensates is piezoelectrically controlled, which allows to change the tunnelling rates between them. We will use this technique for example to simulate dynamic gauge fields for photons. Together with the special thermodynamic equilibrium characteristics of the photon condensates, our planned unique solid-state chip platform offers a scalable architecture for quantum simulations. This will enable the photonic simulation of complex physical phenomena such as the quantum Hall effect.

Open PhD Position related to this project.

More information about the project.