Screening nearest-neighbor interactions in networks of exciton-polariton condensates through spin-orbit coupling

We study the modification of the spatial coupling parameter between interacting ballistic exciton-polariton condensates in the presence of photonic spin-orbit coupling appearing from transverse electric???transverse magnetic (TE-TM) splitting in planar semiconductor microcavities. We propose a strategy to make the coupling strength between next-nearest neighbors stronger than between nearest neighbors, which inverts the conventional idea of the spatial coupling hierarchy between sites. Our strategy relies on the dominantly populated highmomentum components in the ballistic condensates which, in the presence of TE-TM splitting, lead to rapid radial precession of the polariton pseudospin. As a consequence, condensate pairs experience distance-periodic screening of their interaction strength, severely modifying their synchronization and condensation threshold solutions.

Automated summary

This study investigates the modification of the spatial coupling parameter between interacting ballistic exciton-polariton condensates caused by photonic spin-orbit coupling in planar semiconductor microcavities. The authors propose a strategy to enhance the coupling strength between next-nearest neighbors, contrary to the conventional spatial coupling hierarchy. This strategy takes advantage of the dominant high-momentum components in the ballistic condensates, which lead to rapid precession of the polariton pseudospin. Consequently, the interaction strength between condensate pairs experiences distance-periodic screening, resulting in significant changes to synchronization and condensation threshold solutions.