Fig. 2: Dispersion and real-space emission of exciton-polariton condensation in a microcavity with a Gaussian deformation.

a Angular dispersion of the emitted light below polariton condensation threshold showing the LG00 ground state at 2.375 eV and, faintly, the LG01 state at 2.397 eV, and b above threshold, where polariton condensation in the ground state occurs. Images were acquired in Fourier-space imaging configuration, with the fine substructure (angle-dependent intensity modulation) of the graph being an artifact caused by dust particles inside the spectrograph. The respective angle-integrated spectrum (black solid line) is illustrated on the left side of each panel. c Real-space emission acquired using weak continuous-wave excitation, displaying significant background PL, with an emission intensity maximum at the location of the Gaussian deformation, corresponding to a mixture of LG00, LG01 and PC modes. d Real-space emission image obtained under strong, pulsed excitation, forming a polariton condensate in the ground state of the Gaussian-shaped potential well, indicating single-mode condensation. The images in (a)–(d) display normalized emission intensity with the false-color encoding defined by the color bar provided in (d).