Emergence of turbulence in a counterflow geometry of two-dimensional polariton quantum fluids
Phys. Rev. B 114, 144501 – Published 1 September, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/37c3-mwcp
Abstract
We numerically investigate the nonlinear dynamics of a two-dimensional exciton-polariton quantum fluid coherently driven by two counterpropagating laser beams. Using an exciton-photon coupled driven-dissipative Gross-Pitaevskii framework, we identify four distinct regimes—that we label as linear, solitonic, turbulent, and superfluid—emerging from the interplay between pump strength, laser detuning, and injected momentum, which together control the balance between kinetic and interaction energies in the quantum fluid. The different regimes are characterized through real-space and momentum-space observables, as well as through the temporal first-order coherence function. We show that the turbulent regime occupies a well-defined and extended region of parameter space, marked by spontaneous vortex nucleation due to the snake-instability process, and a pronounced reduction of temporal coherence, providing a clear signature of nonstationary dynamics. By constructing quantitative phase diagrams, we delineate the transitions between the various regimes and identify multiple pathways connecting the different behaviors. Finally, we demonstrate that the turbulent regime persists over experimentally realistic parameter ranges compatible with state-of-the-art GaAs-based microcavity platforms, establishing counterpropagating polariton flows as a robust and versatile setting for the study of driven-dissipative quantum turbulence in two dimensions.