Acoustic spin resonance in polariton condensates

Abstract

We theoretically investigate acoustic spin resonance in a spatially homogeneous spinor polariton condensate. A longitudinal acoustic wave generates a time-periodic strain-induced effective magnetic field acting on the condensate pseudospin. When this field is transverse to the static in-plane linear-polarization splitting, it resonantly drives polarization oscillations. We show that spin-dependent interactions shift the resonance and produce nonlinear line shapes, while gain, reservoir dynamics, and spin relaxation make the response dissipative and history-dependent, producing amplitude hysteresis. In the presence of lifetime anisotropy, the condensate can develop a bifurcated stationary state with finite circular polarization, and a resonant acoustic drive can switch between the corresponding out-of-plane branches. A Zeeman splitting provides an additional conservative knob for tuning the resonance frequency. Our results identify coherent acoustic driving as a route to resonant, nonlinear, and switchable control of polariton pseudospin dynamics.