Stuttgart 2012 – scientific programme

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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 34: Poster 1

Q 34.9: Poster

Tuesday, March 13, 2012, 16:30–19:00, Poster.I+II

Bose-Einstein Condensation of Photons with Dye Quantum Dots in an Optical Microcavity — •David Dung, Tobias Damm, Julian Schmitt, Jan Klärs, Frank Vewinger, and Martin Weitz — Institute for Applied Physics (IAP), Universität Bonn

In former work Bose-Einstein condensation of photons in a dye-filled optical microcavity has been realized [1]. In this experiment, a number-conserving thermalization process is achieved by multiple absorption and fluorescence of dye-molecules. The microcavity creates a confining potential, providing a non-trivial ground state and leading to a non-vanishing effective photon mass. Formally, the system is equivalent to a two-dimensional gas of trapped, massive bosons.

We here report on current efforts to replace the so far used dye solution by dye quantum dots. The goal here is to increase the photostability of the light-matter thermalisation medium. Because quantum dots are commercially available encabsulated and thus shielded from the enviroment, they allow for a higher photostability than usual dye media. We expect that dye quantum dots within a tracer-matrix also offer the possibility to realize solid state material filled microcavities. This would be a first step towards technical applications of a photonic BEC.
[1] Klaers et al., Nature 468, 545 (2010).