{
  "id": "1407.4984",
  "version": "v2",
  "published": "2014-07-18T13:26:33.000Z",
  "updated": "2014-10-07T15:27:12.000Z",
  "title": "Ultimate photo-induced Kerr rotation achieved in semiconductor microcavities",
  "authors": [
    "R. V. Cherbunin",
    "M. Vladimirova",
    "K. V. Kavokin",
    "A. V. Mikhailov",
    "N. E. Kopteva",
    "P. G. Lagoudakis",
    "A. V. Kavokin"
  ],
  "comment": "Shortened version prepared to submit in Phys. Rev. Letters",
  "categories": [
    "cond-mat.mes-hall",
    "physics.optics"
  ],
  "abstract": "Photoinduced Kerr rotation by more than $\\pi /2$ radians is demonstrated in planar quantum well microcavity in the strong coupling regime. This result is close to the predicted theoretical maximum of $\\pi $. It is achieved by engineering microcavity parameters such that the optical impedance matching condition is reached at the smallest negative detuning between exciton resonance and the cavity mode. This ensures the optimum combination of the exciton induced optical non-linearity and the enhancement of the Kerr angle by the cavity. Comprehensive analysis of the polarization state of the light in this regime shows that both renormalization of the exciton energy and the saturation of the excitonic resonance contribute to the observed optical nonlinearities.",
  "revisions": [
    {
      "version": "v1",
      "updated": "2014-07-18T13:26:33.000Z",
      "abstract": "Giant Kerr rotation and ellipticity are observed and investigated in an asymmetric planar microcavity with a quantum well in the active region. Rotation angle of the polarization plane as well as ellipticity were determined from time- and frequency resolved measurements of the Stokes vector components of reflected light. It was found that at negative detuning of the cavity mode with respect to the heavy exciton transition, the splitting of lower polariton branch under circularly polarized pump can exceed its linewidth. This fact gives a possibility to observe the Kerr rotation angle and ellipticity, close to their extremes. A theoretical analysis shows that the decisive role in reaching extreme polarization rotation angles is played not by the quality factor of the cavity, but by the structure asymmetry, which provides optical impedance matching at small negative detunings of the photon mode with respect to the exciton resonance. The possibility of application of the studied effect for fast optical switching is discussed.",
      "comment": "6 pages, 4 figures",
      "journal": null,
      "doi": null
    },
    {
      "version": "v2",
      "updated": "2014-10-07T15:27:12.000Z"
    }
  ],
  "analyses": {
    "subjects": [
      "71.36.+c",
      "42.65.Hw"
    ],
    "keywords": [
      "ultimate photo-induced kerr rotation",
      "microcavity",
      "semiconductor microcavities",
      "reaching extreme polarization rotation angles"
    ],
    "publication": {
      "doi": "10.1103/PhysRevB.91.205308",
      "journal": "Physical Review B",
      "year": 2015,
      "month": "May",
      "volume": 91,
      "number": 20,
      "pages": 205308
    },
    "note": {
      "typesetting": "TeX",
      "pages": 6,
      "language": "en",
      "license": "arXiv",
      "status": "editable",
      "adsabs": "2015PhRvB..91t5308C"
    }
  }
}