Selective photoexcitation of confined exciton-polariton vortices

Abstract

We resonantly excite exciton-polariton states confined in cylindrical traps. Using a homodyne detection setup, we are able to image the phase and amplitude of the confined polariton states. We evidence the excitation of vortex states, carrying an integer angular orbital momentum m, analogous to the transverse TE M 01* "donut" mode of cylindrically symmetric optical resonators. Tuning the excitation conditions allows us to select the charge of the vortex. In this way, the injection of singly charged (m=1 and m=-1) and doubly charged (m=2) polariton vortices is shown. This work demonstrates the potential of in-plane confinement coupled with selective excitation for the topological tailoring of polariton wave functions. © 2010 The American Physical Society.