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Strongly interacting polaritons in coupled arrays of cavities

Nature Physics volume 2, pages 849–855 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Observing quantum phenomena in strongly correlated many-particle systems is difficult because of the short length- and timescales involved. Exerting control over the state of individual elements within such a system is even more so, and represents a hurdle in the realization of quantum computing devices. Substantial progress has been achieved with arrays of Josephson junctions and cold atoms in optical lattices, where detailed control over collective properties is feasible, but addressing individual sites remains a challenge. Here we show that a system of polaritons held in an array of resonant optical cavities—which could be realized using photonic crystals or toroidal microresonators—can form a strongly interacting many-body system showing quantum phase transitions, where individual particles can be controlled and measured. The system also offers the possibility to generate attractive on-site potentials yielding highly entangled states and a phase with particles much more delocalized than in superfluids.

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Figure 1: An array of cavities as described by our model.
Figure 2: Formation of polariton modes.
Figure 3: The dynamics of one polariton in three cavities compared with the dynamics of one particle in the effective three-site BH model.
Figure 4: The Mott-insulator-to-superfluid transition for three polaritons in three cavities compared with three particles in a three-site BH model.
Figure 5: For increasingly strong attractive on-site potentials, a highly entangled W𝒩 state with local particle fluctuations Fi=𝒩 − 1 is created.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Ataç Imamoğlu, Tobias Kippenberg and Kerry Vahala for discussions and Alex Retzker for proofreading the manuscript. This work is part of the QIP-IRC supported by EPSRC and the Integrated Project Qubit Applications (QAP) supported by the IST directorate and was supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and the Royal Society.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Imperial College London, 53 Exhibition Road, SW7 2PG, UK

    Michael J. Hartmann, Fernando G. S. L. Brandão & Martin B. Plenio

  2. QOLS, The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, SW7 2BW, UK

    Michael J. Hartmann, Fernando G. S. L. Brandão & Martin B. Plenio

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Hartmann, M., Brandão, F. & Plenio, M. Strongly interacting polaritons in coupled arrays of cavities. Nature Phys 2, 849–855 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys462

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