All-Optical Beam Steering Using the Polariton Lighthouse Effect

We demonstrate theoretically and experimentally that a specifically designed microcavity driven in the optical parametric oscillation regime exhibits lighthouse-like emission, that is, an emission focused around a single direction. Remarkably, the emission direction of this microlight-house is continuously controlled by the linear polarization of the incident laser, and angular beam steering over 360 degrees is demonstrated. Theoretically, this effect arises from the interplay between the nonlinear optical response of microcavity exciton-polaritons, the difference in the subcavities forming the microcavity, and the rotational invariance of the device.

Automated summary

Through theoretical and experimental demonstrations, we show that a specially designed microcavity driven in the optical parametric oscillation regime emits light similar to a lighthouse, with emission focused in a single direction. The emission direction of this microlight-house is continuously controlled by the linear polarization of the incident laser, allowing for angular beam steering over 360 degrees. This effect arises from the interplay between the nonlinear optical response of microcavity exciton-polaritons, the differences in the subcavities forming the microcavity, and the rotational invariance of the device.