Quantum simulation of Cooper pairing with photons

Abstract

We propose a scheme to observe the crossover from weakly to strongly bound pairs with stationary polaritons. We first show how stationary light-matter excitations (polaritons) can realize an optically tunable two-component Bose-Hubbard model with repulsive intraspecies interactions and attractive interspecies interactions. We then discuss the feasibility of generating an effective Fermi-Hubbard model of polaritons exhibiting the crossover behavior. The predicted behavior of the system characterized by a crossover from short- to long-range spatial correlations as interactions are tuned can be efficiently observed by measuring correlation functions on the light exiting the waveguide. © 2012 American Physical Society.