Driving emergent gauge fields in non-linear optical resonators

• Applicant: Professor Oded Zilberberg, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas ; Statistical Physics, Nonlinear Dynamics, Complex Systems, Soft and Fluid Matter, Biological Physics ; Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 545605411

In N-GAUGE, we aim at fully exploring the out-of-equilibrium phase diagram of sculptured polariton condensates involving up well-defined spatial structure of up to 10 elements, and the potential to respond with out-of-equilibrium limit cycles. Recent achievements of the consortium, complementary expertise of the two partners, and their already well-established collaboration place them in a world leading position to explore this uncharted territory. We will explore by means of pump-probe optical spectroscopy the breadth of nonlinear phenomena in driven polariton quantum fluids, and develop alongside the theoretical basis for describing such driven-dissipative systems. We propose to explore the interplay between the spatial structure and symmetries of both the cavity and the drive profiles. This will elucidate the special features of driven-dissipative polariton fluids with respect to conservative systems. Our research program capitalizes on our recent achievements in exploring the nonlinear responses of basic structural building blocks [JB3,JB4] and their scaling into 1D superstructures [JB2, JB5, JBOZ1]. We will furthermore develop and harness a novel theoretical approach, involving an extended Harmonic Balance ansatz [OZ1], for studying the full phase diagram of the driven system. The predicted out-of-equilibrium stationary states will be realized in experiments, with a special focus on the appearance of tunable gauge degrees of freedom in limit cycles [JB4]. With such manifesting gauge freedoms in out-of-equilibrium, we aim to explore their relation to known concepts from equilibrium physics, such as symmetries of quasiparticle modes [7], geometrical phases [8], and synthetic dimensions [OZ2, 9-13].

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: France
• Partner Organisation: Agence Nationale de la Recherche / The French National Research Agency
• Cooperation Partner: Professorin Dr. Jacqueline Bloch