Quantum optical effects in semiconductor microcavities

Investigations of quantum effects in semiconductor quantum-well microcavities interacting with laser light in the strong-coupling regime are presented. Modifications of quantum fluctuations of the outgoing light are expected due to the non-linearity originating from coherent exciton-exciton scattering. In the strong-coupling regime, this scattering translates into a four-wave mixing interaction between the mixed exciton-photon states, the polaritons. Squeezing and giant amplification of the polariton field and of the outgoing light field fluctuations are predicted. However, polariton-phonon scattering is shown to yield excess noise in the output field, which may destroy the non-classical effects. Experiments demonstrate evidence for giant amplification due to coherent four-wave mixing of polaritons. Noise reduction below the thermal noise level was also observed. To cite this article: E. Giacobino et al., C. R. Physique 3 (2002) 41-52. (C) 2002 Academie des sciencestditions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.