Electric generation of vortices in an exciton-polariton superfluid

Abstract

We have theoretically demonstrated the on demand electric generation of vortices in an exciton-polariton superfluid. Electric pulses applied to a horseshoe-shaped metallic mesa, deposited on top of the microcavity, generate a non-cylindrically symmetric solitonic wave in the system. Breakdown of its wavefront at focal points leads to the formation of vortex-antivortex pairs which subsequently propagate in the superfluid. The trajectory of these vortex dipoles can be controlled by applying a voltage to additional electrodes. They can be confined within channels formed by metallic stripes and unbound by a wedged mesa giving birth to grey solitons. Finally single static vortices can be generated using a single metallic plate configuration.