Probing a dissipative phase transition via dynamical optical hysteresis

Bibliographic Details
Title: Probing a dissipative phase transition via dynamical optical hysteresis
Authors: Rodriguez, S. R. K., Casteels, W., Storme, F., Zambon, N. Carlon, Sagnes, I., Gratiet, L. Le, Galopin, E., Lemaitre, A., Amo, A., Ciuti, C., Bloch, J.
Publication Year: 2016
Collection: Physics (Other)
Quantum Physics
Subject Terms: Physics - Optics, Quantum Physics
More Details: We experimentally explore the dynamic optical hysteresis of a semiconductor microcavity as a function of the sweep time. The hysteresis area exhibits a double power law decay due to the shot noise of the driving laser, which triggers switching between metastable states. Upon increasing the average photon number and approaching the thermodynamic limit, the double power law evolves into a single power law. This algebraic behavior characterizes a dissipative phase transition. Our findings are in good agreement with theoretical predictions, and the present experimental approach is promising for the exploration of critical phenomena in photonic lattices.
Comment: 9 pages including supplemental information
Document Type: Working Paper
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.247402
Access URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/1608.00260
Accession Number: edsarx.1608.00260
Database: arXiv
More Details
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.247402