Phase selection and intermittency of exciton-polariton condensates in one-dimensional periodic structures

An exciton-polariton condensate loaded in a single active miniband in a one-dimensional microcavity wire with a complex-valued periodic potential changes its state with an increase of the polariton-polariton repulsion. This effect depends on the type of the single-particle dispersion of the miniband, which can be fine tuned by the real and imaginary components of the potential. As a result, the condensate can be formed in a zero state, π state, or mixed state of spatiotemporal intermittency, depending on the shape of the miniband, strength of interparticle interaction, and distribution of gain in the system. The change of the condensate wave function with increasing interaction takes place by proliferation of dark solitons, which are the building blocks of the new condensate phase. We show that, in general, the interacting polaritons are not condensed in the state with minimal losses, nor do they accumulate in the state with a well-defined wave vector. ©2019 American Physical Societ