Quantum fluids of light in semiconductor lattices

When confining photons in semiconductor lattices, it is possible to deeply modify their physical properties. Photons can behave as finite or even infinite mass particles, photons can propagate along edge states without back scattering, photons can become superfluid, photons can behave as interacting particles. These are just a few examples of properties that can be imprinted into fluids of light in semiconductor lattices. Such manipulation of light present not only potential for applications in photonics, but also great promise for fundamental studies. One can invent artificial media with exotic physical properties at the single particle level or even more interestingly when interactions are considered.

During the talk, Jacqueline Bloch will illustrate the variety of physical systems we can emulate with light fluids by presenting some recent experiments. The perspectives in terms of analogue simulation of complex problems will be discussed.