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Exciton-Polariton Gas as a Nonequilibrium Coolant

Sebastian Klembt, Emilien Durupt, Sanjoy Datta, Thorsten Klein, Augustin Baas, Yoan Léger, Carsten Kruse, Detlef Hommel, Anna Minguzzi, and Maxime Richard
Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 186403 – Published 5 May 2015
Physics logo See Synopsis: A Polariton Fridge for Semiconductors
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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.

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  • Received 8 December 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.186403

This article is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.

Published by the American Physical Society

Synopsis

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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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Authors & Affiliations

Sebastian Klembt1, Emilien Durupt1, Sanjoy Datta2, Thorsten Klein3, Augustin Baas1, Yoan Léger4, Carsten Kruse3, Detlef Hommel3, Anna Minguzzi2, and Maxime Richard1

  • 1Institut Néel, Université Grenoble Alpes and CNRS, B.P. 166, 38042 Grenoble, France
  • 2LPMMC, Université Grenoble Alpes and CNRS, B.P. 166, 38042 Grenoble, France
  • 3University of Bremen, P.O. Box 330440, 28334 Bremen, Germany
  • 4Laboratoire FOTON, CNRS, INSA de Rennes, 35708 Rennes, France

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Issue

Vol. 114, Iss. 18 — 8 May 2015

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