Theory of Optomechanical Locking in Driven-Dissipative Coupled Polariton Condensates

• Main Authors: Ramos-Pérez, I. A, Carraro-Haddad, I, Fainstein, F, Chafatinos, D. L, Usaj, G, Mindlin, G. B, Fainstein, A, Reynoso, A. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 18-04-2024
• Subjects: Physics - Chaotic Dynamics; Physics - Optics; Physics - Other Condensed Matter
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2312.08420

Phys. Rev. B 109, 165305 (2024) The ubiquitous phenomenon of synchronization is inherently characteristic of
dynamical dissipative non-linear systems. In particular, synchronization has
been theoretically and experimentally demonstrated for exciton-polariton
condensates with time-independent coupling. Unlike that case, we theoretically
investigate the effects of a fixed mechanical harmonic driving, i.e., a
coherent phonon population, that induces time modulation in the coupling of two
coupled condensates. Our model applies both to electrically generated
modulation, through coherent bulk acoustic waves, and to self-induced
optomechanical vibrations. We consider linear as well as quadratic
phonon-displacement-induced modulations of the polariton coupling. Peculiar
asynchronously locked phases are found and analyzed in the context of
synchronization and Josephson-type oscillations phenomena that appear in the
non-driven case. Notably, Arnold tongues corresponding to the asynchronously
locked phases emerge at condensate detunings that correspond to integer numbers
of the mechanical frequency and also to rational fractions of it. Unlocked
quasiperiodic and chaotic regimes can also be reached. In particular, the
phonon-induced fractional locking frequencies arrange in a Farey sequence that
produces a devil's staircase of the steady-state dressed detuning between the
condensates. Importantly, both polariton-polariton and reservoir-polariton
interactions facilitate the realization of coherent phonon-induced
asynchronously locked phases. The relation to recent experiments on
optomechanically driven condensates in arrays of polariton traps is discussed.