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We study the dynamics of multimode polariton lasing in organic microcavities by using a second-order cumulant equation approach. By inspecting the time evolution of the photon mode occupations, we show that if multiple lasing peaks are observed in time-integrated mode occupations, the reason can be either bi-modal lasing or temporal switching between several modes. The former takes place within a narrow range of parameters while the latter occurs more widely. We find that the origin of the temporal switching is different in the weak- and strong-coupling regimes. At weak coupling slope efficiency is the determining factor, while for strong coupling it is changes in the eigenmodes and gain spectrum upon pumping. This difference is revealed by investigating the photoluminescence and momentum-resolved gain spectra. Our results underscore the importance of understanding the time evolution of the populations when characterizing the lasing behaviour of a multimode polariton system, and show how these features differ between weak and strong coupling., Comment: 15 pages, 13 figures

Polarization textures of light may reflect fundamental phenomena such as topological defects, and can be utilized in engineering light beams. Three main routes are applied during their creation: spontaneous appearance in phase transitions, steering by an excitation beam, or structural engineering of the medium. We present an approach that uses all three in a platform offering advantages that are not simultaneously provided in any previous system: advanced structural engineering, strong-coupling condensate with effective photonic interactions, as well as room temperature and sub-picosecond operation. We demonstrate domain wall polarization textures in a plasmonic lattice Bose-Einstein condensate, by combining the dipole structure of the lattice with a non-trivial condensate phase revealed by phase retrieval. These results open new prospects for fundamental studies of non-equilibrium condensation and sources of polarization-structured beams., Comment: 29 pages, 7 figures

Bosonic condensates offer exciting prospects for studies of non-equilibrium quantum dynamics. Understanding the dynamics is particularly challenging in the sub-picosecond timescales typical for room temperature luminous driven-dissipative condensates. Here we combine a lattice of plasmonic nanoparticles with dye molecule solution at the strong coupling regime, and pump the molecules optically. The emitted light reveals three distinct regimes: one-dimensional lasing, incomplete stimulated thermalization, and two-dimensional multimode condensation. The condensate is achieved by matching the thermalization rate with the lattice size and occurs only for pump pulse durations below a critical value. Our results give access to control and monitoring of thermalization processes and condensate formation at sub-picosecond timescale., Comment: Revised version

Bose-Einstein condensation is a remarkable manifestation of quantum statistics and macroscopic quantum coherence. Superconductivity and superfluidity have their origin in Bose-Einstein condensation. Ultracold quantum gases have provided condensates close to the original ideas of Bose and Einstein, while condensation of polaritons and magnons have introduced novel concepts of non-equilibrium condensation. Here, we demonstrate a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of surface plasmon polaritons in lattice modes of a metal nanoparticle array. Interaction of the nanoscale-confined surface plasmons with a room-temperature bath of dye molecules enables thermalization and condensation in picoseconds. The ultrafast thermalization and condensation dynamics are revealed by an experiment that exploits thermalization under propagation and the open cavity character of the system. A crossover from BEC to usual lasing is realized by tailoring the band structure. This new condensate of surface plasmon lattice excitations has promise for future technologies due to its ultrafast, room-temperature and on-chip nature.