Bose-Einstein condensation of light in a semiconductor quantum well microcavity

Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) of photons has been recently demonstrated in organic dye-filled optical microcavities. This paper demonstrates photon BEC in an inorganic semiconductor microcavity, distinguishing it from laser action. Semiconductor microcavities offer advantages such as continuous operation due to the absence of dark electronic states and stronger photon-photon scattering. The authors measure a large interaction parameter (g ≥ 10³), enabling the study of rich interaction physics within BECs, such as superfluid light.

Ross C. Schofield, Ming Fu, Edmund Clarke, Ian Farrer, Aristotelis Trapalis, Himadri S. Dhar, Rick Mukherjee, Toby Severs Millard, Jon Heffernan, Florian Mintert, Robert A. Nyman, Rupert F. Oulton