Synchronized and desynchronized phases of coupled non-equilibrium exciton-polariton condensates

We theoretically analyze the synchronized and desynchronized phases of coupled non-equilibrium polariton condensates within mean field theory. An analytical condition for the existence of a synchronized phase is derived for two coupled wells. The case of many wells in a 2D disordered geometry is studied numerically. The relation to recent experiments on polariton condensation in CdTe microcavities is discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Probing the excitation spectrum of nonresonantly pumped polariton condensates

We propose a four wave mixing experiment to probe the elementary excitation spectrum of a non-equilibrium Bose-Einstein condensate of exciton-polaritons under non-resonant pumping. Analytical calculations based on mean-field theory show that this method is able to reveal the characteristic negative energy feature of the Bogoliubov dispersion. Numerical simulations including the finite spatial profile of the excitation laser spot and a weak disorder confirm the practical utility of the method for realistic condensates.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Spatial and spectral shape of inhomogeneous non-equilibrium exciton-polariton condensates

We develop a mean-field theory of the spatial profile and the spectral properties of polariton condensates in nonresonantly pumped semiconductor microcavities in the strong coupling regime. Predictions are obtained for both the continuous-wave and the pulsed excitation regimes and the specific signatures of the non-equilibrium character of the condensation process are pointed out. A striking sensitivity of the condensate shape on the optical pump spot size is demonstrated by analytical and numerical calculations, in good quantitative agreement with recent experimental observations.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Excitations in a non-equilibrium Bose-Einstein condensate of exciton-polaritons

We have developed a mean-field model to describe the dynamics of a non-equilibrium Bose-Einstein condensate of exciton-polaritons in a semiconductor microcavity. The spectrum of elementary excitations around the stationary state is analytically studied in different geometries. A diffusive behaviour of the Goldstone mode is found in the spatially homogeneous case and new features are predicted for the Josephson effect in a two-well geometry.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

Highland Asia as a field of anthropological study

Zomia, in the sense exulted by James C. Scott (2009) as an abode of purposeful political anarchy and anti-stateism, is not an emic conceptualization, not a particular place or an incantation of a collective identity referred to or professed by particular populations of humans. As a spatial and social reality, or as a word-concept, Zomia, then appears an exercise in scholarly magical realism (evidence is ‘thin’, ‘limited’, and ‘ambiguous’, as Victor Lieberman (2010: 339) puts it more discreetly). It is a form of geographical and historical imagination that nevertheless has begun to ‘escape’ the narrow corridors of the academy and into public discourse where it now lives a life of its own. It is an original imagination no doubt – an optic that stimulates fresh scholarship – but one simultaneously cannot escape that Zomia-disciples are letting their imagination run away with them

Wave function Monte Carlo method for polariton condensates

We present a quantum jump approach to describe coupled quantum and classical systems in the context of Bose-Einstein condensation in the solid state. In our formalism, the excitonic gain medium is described by classical rate equations, while the polariton modes are described fully quantum mechanically. We show the equivalence of our method with a master equation approach. As an application, we compute the linewidth of a single mode polariton condensate. Both the line broadening due to the interactions between polaritons and the interactions with the reservoir excitons is taken into account.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure

The diurnal evolution of the urban heat island of Paris: a model-based case study during Summer 2006

The urban heat island (UHI) over Paris during summer 2006 was simulated using the Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS) updated with a simple urban parametrization at a horizontal resolution of 1 km. Two integrations were performed, one with the urban land cover of Paris and another in which Paris was replaced by cropland. The focus is on a five-day clear-sky period, for which the UHI intensity reaches its maximum. The diurnal evolution of the UHI intensity was found to be adequately simulated for this five day period. The maximum difference at night in 2 m temperature between urban and rural areas stemming from the urban heating is reproduced with a relative error of less than 10%. The UHI has an ellipsoidal shape and stretches along the prevailing wind direction. The maximum UHI intensity of 6.1 K occurs at 23:00 UTC located 6 km downstream of the city centre and this largely remains during the whole night. An idealized one-column model study demonstrates that the nocturnal differential sensible heat flux, even though much smaller than its daytime value, is mainly responsible for the maximum UHI intensity. The reason for this nighttime maximum is that additional heat is only affecting a shallow layer of 150 m. An air uplift is explained by the synoptic east wind and a ramp upwind of the city centre, which leads to a considerable nocturnal adiabatic cooling over cropland. The idealized study demonstrates that the reduced vertical adiabatic cooling over the city compared to cropland induces an additional UHI build-up of 25%. The UHI and its vertical extent is affected by the boundary-layer stability, nocturnal low-level jet as well as radiative cooling. Therefore, improvements of representing these boundary-layer features in atmospheric models are important for UHI studies

The stability of nonequilibrium polariton superflow in the presence of a cylindrical defect

We make a theoretical study of the stability of nonequilibrium polariton superflows that interact with a cylindrical defect. The nonresonantly pumped polariton condensate is modelled with a generalized complex Ginzburg-Landau equation. At low pump intensities the dissipation is found stabilize the superflow. At large pump intensities, we find an instability that sets a lower critical speed for superfluidity. For even larger pump power, the lower and upper critical speed meet and stable superflows are no longer possible.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure