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- Title
Topological unwinding in an exciton-polariton condensate array.
- Authors
Lyu, Guitao; Minami, Yuki; Kim, Na Young; Byrnes, Tim; Watanabe, Gentaro
- Abstract
The phase distribution in a Bose-Einstein condensate can realize various topological states classified by distinct winding numbers. While states with different winding numbers are topologically protected in the linear Schrödinger equation, when nonlinearities are introduced, violations of the topological protection can occur, leading to unwinding. Exciton-polariton condensates constitute a nonlinear open-dissipative system that is well suited to studying such physics. Here we show that a one-dimensional array of exciton-polariton condensates displays a spontaneous phase unwinding from a π- to zero-state. We clarify that this collective mode transition is caused by the combined effect of nonlinearity and topological defects in the condensates. While the mode-switching phenomenon observed in our previous experiment was interpreted as the single-particle mode competition, we offer an alternative explanation in terms the collective phase unwinding and find its evidence by reanalyzing the experimental data. Our results open a route towards active control of the mode switching by manipulating the topological defects in prospective quantum polaritonic devices. Understanding quantum topological states and the nature of their topological protection is an important fundamental question. By reinterpreting a past mode-switching experiment of an exciton-polariton condensate in a lattice, this work highlights the key role of collective many-body effects leading to the topological phase unwinding.
- Subjects
BOSE Corp.; POLARITONS; BOSE-Einstein condensation; BOSE-Einstein statistics; SCHRODINGER equation; NATURE conservation; QUANTUM states; LINEAR equations
- Publication
Communications Physics, 2024, Vol 7, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2399-3650
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/s42005-024-01677-8