Open AccessAmplification of nonlinear polariton pulses in waveguides
Author(s) -
Lucy E. Tapia-Rodriguez,
P. M. Walker,
H. Sigurðsson,
B. Royall,
I. Farrer,
David A. Ritchie,
A. V. Yulin,
I. A. Shelykh,
M. S. Skolnick,
D. N. Krizhanovskii
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.27.010692
Subject(s) - optics , ultrashort pulse , physics , picosecond , photonics , nonlinear system , nonlinear optics , waveguide , polariton , modulation (music) , optoelectronics , laser , quantum mechanics , acoustics
Using a sub-millimeter exciton-polariton waveguide suitable for integrated photonics, we experimentally demonstrate nonlinear modulation of pico-Joule pulses at the same time as amplification sufficient to compensate the system losses. By comparison with a numerical model we explain the observed interplay of gain and nonlinearity as amplification of the interacting polariton field by stimulated scattering from an incoherent continuous-wave reservoir that is depleted by the pulses. This combination of gain and giant ultrafast nonlinearity operating on picosecond pulses has the potential to open up new directions in low-power all-optical information processing and nonlinear photonic simulation of conservative and driven-dissipative systems.