Abstract
Using angle-resolved Raman spectroscopy, we show that a resonantly excited ground-state exciton-polariton fluid behaves like a nonequilibrium coolant for its host solid-state semiconductor microcavity. With this optical technique, we obtain a detailed measurement of the thermal fluxes generated by the pumped polaritons. We thus find a maximum cooling power for a cryostat temperature of 50 K and below where optical cooling is usually suppressed, and we identify the participation of an ultrafast cooling mechanism. We also show that the nonequilibrium character of polaritons constitutes an unexpected resource: each scattering event can remove more heat from the solid than would be normally allowed using a thermal fluid with normal internal equilibration.
- Received 8 December 2014
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.186403
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Published by the American Physical Society
Synopsis
A Polariton Fridge for Semiconductors
Published 5 May 2015
A gas of polaritons can serve as a coolant fluid that transports heat away from a semiconductor microcavity.
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