Bose Einstein Condensation in Trapped Polaritons Versus Lasing Effects

Evidence for Bose Einstein condensation (BEC) of exciton-polaritons have been presented recently by several groups in a variety semiconductor microcavity geometries (eg. [1). Objections nevertheless remain as experimental evidence for polariton BEC bear striking similarity to observed behavior in a regular photon laser or microcavity in weak coupling regime [2]. Latest results however show that a both BEC and lasing transitions can occur and are distinguishable in the stress trapped case [3]. \\[3pt] [1] Balili, R., Hartwell, V., Snoke, D., Pfeiffer L., and West, K. Science 316, 1007 (2007). \\[0pt] [2] Bajoni, D., Senellart, P, Lemaitre, A., and Bloch, J. Phys. Rev. B. 76, 201305(R) (2007). \\[0pt] [3] Balili, R., Nelsen, B., Snoke, D., Pfeiffer L., and West, K. arXiv:0808.1861v2 [cond-mat.other](2008).