Zitterbewegung of exciton-polaritons

Abstract

Macroscopic wave packets of spin-polarized exciton-polaritons in two-dimensional microcavities experience the zitterbewegung, the effect manifested by the appearance of the oscillatory motion of polaritons in the direction normal to the initial propagation direction. The oscillating trajectories of exciton-polaritons are adjustable by the control parameters: the splitting of the longitudinal and transverse exciton-polariton modes, the wave vector, and the width of the resonant cw pump. Our theoretical analysis supported by the numerical calculations allowed us to optimize values of the control parameters suitable for a direct experimental observation of the zitterbewegung effect. © 2018 American Physical Society