Bonn 2025 – scientific programme

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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 39: Photon BEC

Q 39.5: Talk

Wednesday, March 12, 2025, 15:30–15:45, HS V

Quantum gases of light in ring potentials — •Patrick Gertz, Leon Espert Miranda, Andreas Redmann, Kirankumar Karkihalli Umesh, Frank Vewinger, and Martin Weitz — Institute for Applied Physics, University of Bonn, Wegelerstraße 8, 53115 Bonn, Germany

Optical quantum gases in material-filled microcavities provide exquisite experimental control over dimensionality, shape of the energy landscape or the coupling to reservoirs, which opens the door to investigate novel states of matter both in and out of equilibrium. Here we report on the experimental realization of a quantum gas of photons in ring-shaped potentials within a dye-filled optical microcavity. The trapping potential for the cavity photons is provided by imprinting static nanostructures on the surface of one of the cavity mirrors using a controlled laser-induced delamination of the dielectric mirror coating. We have achieved the quasi-1D, periodically closed confinement of photon gases in ring potentials and performed initial, characterizing measurements of spatial and spectral distributions. Prospects of this work include studies of both the Kibble-Zurek mechanism for photon condensates and of optical flux qubits.

Keywords: Bose-Einstein condensation; Photon condensate; Microcavities