Penrose processes in an analogue black hole formed in hybrid light-matter (polariton) superfluid

Lead Research Organisation: University of Sheffield
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy

Abstract

Nothing, not even light, can escape from a black hole due to extreme gravity. However, as was shown by Roger Penrose , massive particles entering the ergoregion just outside the event horizon can extract energy from a rotating black hole. We propose to explore this elusive, fascinating process in a table-top experimental quantum light-matter superfluid formed in a semiconductor microcavity polariton platform; this will emulate a rotating black hole in 2+1 dimensional analogue spacetime on a microscale. The research will capitalize on the highly favorable properties of the polariton system, such as the ability to undergo condensation and superfluidity due to the giant optical nonlinearity, as well as the ability to control, drive and measure the spatial density and phase of the 2D polaritons using external laser sources. These enable the "flow" of space-time in a black hole by a large draining vortex in a superfluid to be emulated, where the boundary of the transition from subsonic to supersonic flow recreates the event horizon. The particular focus of this proposal will be on the study of how the Penrose process is affected by the quantum behavior of the polariton fluid (described by macroscopic order) leading to quantization of orbital angular momentum of the analogue black hole. Overall our project addresses fundamental physics questions by exploiting state-of-the art semiconductor quantum technologies developed in the Physics Department and at the National Epitaxy Facility at the University of Sheffield: it relates general relativity to hydrodynamics and physics of macroscopically ordered light-matter states in solids and opens up new avenues in the study of quantum phenomena and gravity effects on the microscale.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Title Dataset for Observation of Zitterbewegung in photonic microcavities 
Description Dataset for Observation of Zitterbewegung in photonic microcavities 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2023 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://figshare.shef.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Dataset_for_Observation_of_Zitterbewegung_in_photonic_m...
 
Description Collaboration with Prof. D Snoke from the University of Pittsburg, USA 
Organisation Pittsburg State University
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Optical measurements of polariton propagation, condensation and optical parametric scattering in microcavity samples with long lifetime >100 ps.
Collaborator Contribution Supply of high quality GaAs-based microcavity sample with low photonic spatial disorder and long polariton lifetime to realise analogue black hole using polariton superfluids
Impact NA
Start Year 2022
 
Description Collaboration with the theory group of Prof. Dmitry Sonyshkov from the Université Blaise Pascal, France 
Organisation Blaise Pascal University
Country France 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have initiated the experiment on the realisation of analogue black holes in semiconductor microcavities. We pumped our system with an optical vortex at high density, which realises supersonic/subsonic transition near the analogue black hole core.
Collaborator Contribution The group of Solnyshkov is providing the theoretical interpretation and modelling of the observed results.
Impact NA
Start Year 2023
 
Description Black Hole Superradiance video, by Visakan Balakumar (UKRI postdoc) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact In 2023, the UKRI funded postdoc Dr Visakan Balakumar created a 9 minute public engagement video on the topic of Black Hole Superradiance, in collaboration with Human Studios. Dr Sam Dolan was a scientific consultant for Dr Balakumar, and he played a role in editing and improving the script. The video is available on the website of the University of Sheffield: https://player.sheffield.ac.uk/events/black-hole-superradiance
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023,2024
URL https://player.sheffield.ac.uk/events/black-hole-superradiance