Rabi olarization oscillations – FESCH.TV

FESCH.TV INFORMIERT:

Polarization shaping of Poincaré beams by polariton oscillations. D. colas et al (2015), Light Science & Applications

We propose the experimental and theoretical generation of femtosecond light pulses whose polarization varies in a ordered oscillating and continuous fashion.
Using a coherent control between two counter-polarized exciting pulses, it is possible to convert the intensity oscillations associated to the Rabi splitting of microcavity polariton modes into polarization oscillations. The state can be seen as temporally covering selected areas of the Poincaré sphere with both tunable swirling speed and total duration. In this way the emitted light from the sample results into a continuously changing polarization state, swirling between opposite polarizations in the time of approximately 1 ps (as the Rabi period), and slowly fading into a fixed state in a 10 ps (as the lower polaritons lifetime).

The colour envelope represents the field intensity over the micrometric area, while the symbols on the floor represent the polarization pattern (red and blue circle are right and left circular polarizations). The time ratio of the slow motion is of 1 ps : 0.5 s (2.000.000.000.000 to 1).