Excitonic effects in Cu₂2O : scattered light, resonant absorption and Bose-Einstein condensate amplification.

Abstract

Experimental results are presented on excitonic effects related to the Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) of excitons in Cu2O. Such effects include resonant light polarization dependent absorption, exciton creation and diffusion by absorption of scattered light, and resonant high density exciton packet induced absorption. These results are then utilized, in conjunction with similar results on excitonic BEC, to develop a plausible model for condensate amplification. Condensates are initially created at T = 1.8K with high intensity ND:YAG pulses (lambda = 532 nm) and then stimulated by a secondary source tuned around the 1S orthoexciton resonance (lambda = 609.51 nm); the latter induces the observed condensate amplification. By careful analysis of the various interactions between the secondary light source, the crystal, and the condensate itself, an improved understanding of how the secondary pulse excitations interact with the passage of a high density exciton packet is obtained.