Emergence of quantum correlations from interacting fibre-cavity polaritons

Nat Mater. 2019 Mar;18(3):213-218. doi: 10.1038/s41563-019-0281-z. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Abstract

Over the past decade, exciton-polaritons in semiconductor microcavities have revealed themselves as one of the richest realizations of a light-based quantum fluid1, subject to fascinating new physics and potential applications2-6. For instance, in the regime of large two-body interactions, polaritons can be used to manipulate the quantum properties of a light field7-9. In this work, we report on the emergence of quantum correlations in laser light transmitted through a fibre-cavity polariton system. We observe a dispersive shape of the autocorrelation function around the polariton resonance that indicates the onset of this regime. The weak amplitude of these correlations indicates a state that still remains far from a low-photon-number state. Nonetheless, given the underlying physical mechanism7, our work opens up the prospect of eventually using polaritons to turn laser light into single photons.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Light
  • Photons*
  • Semiconductors*