Spin Order and Phase Transitions in Chains of Polariton Condensates

• Main Authors: Ohadi, H., Ramsay, A. J., Sigurdsson, H., del Valle-Inclan Redondo, Y., Tsintzos, S. I., Hatzopoulos, Z., Liew, Timothy Chi Hin, Shelykh, I. A., Rubo, Y. G., Savvidis, P. G., Baumberg, J. J.
• Other Authors: School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: Polariton condensates; Spin lattices
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/85490; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/43718
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

We demonstrate that multiply coupled spinor polariton condensates can be optically tuned through a sequence of spin-ordered phases by changing the coupling strength between nearest neighbors. For closed four-condensate chains these phases span from ferromagnetic (FM) to antiferromagnetic (AFM), separated by an unexpected crossover phase. This crossover phase is composed of alternating FM-AFM bonds. For larger eight-condensate chains, we show the critical role of spatial inhomogeneities and demonstrate a scheme to overcome them and prepare any desired spin state. Our observations thus demonstrate a fully controllable nonequilibrium spin lattice.