We present a theoretical study of the quantum depletion of microcavity polaritons that are excited with a resonant laser pulse. The dynamics of the quantum fluctuations are interpreted in the context of quantum quenches in general and in terms of the dynamical Casimir effect in particular. We compute the time evolution of the first- and second-order correlation functions of the polariton condensate. Our theoretical modeling is based on the truncated Wigner approximation for interacting Bose gases. For homogeneous systems, analytical results are obtained in the linearized Bogoliubov approximation. Inhomogeneous systems are studied numerically by Monte Carlo simulations.

• Received 2 July 2015
• Revised 14 October 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.92.195309