Dynamical Exciton Condensates in Biased Electron-Hole Bilayers

Phys Rev Lett. 2024 Nov 22;133(21):217002. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.133.217002.

Abstract

Bilayer materials may support interlayer excitons comprised of electrons in one layer and holes in the other. In experiments, a nonzero exciton density is typically sustained by a bias chemical potential, implemented either by optical pumping or by electrical contacts connected to the two layers. We show that if charge can tunnel between the layers, the chemical potential bias means that an exciton condensate is in the dynamical regime of ac Josephson effect. It has physical consequences such as tunneling currents and the ability to tune a condensate from bright (emitting coherent photons) to dark by experimental controlling knobs. If the system is placed in an optical cavity, coupling with cavity photons favors different dynamical states depending on the bias, realizing superradiant phases.