Hydrodynamic nucleation of vortices and solitons in a resonantly excited polariton superfluid

We present a theoretical study of the hydrodynamic properties of exciton-polaritons in a semiconductor microcavity under a resonant laser excitation. The effect of a spatially extended defect on the superfluid flow is investigated as a function of the flow speed. The processes that are responsible for the nucleation of vortices and solitons in the wake of the defect are characterized, as well as the regimes where the superfluid flow remains unperturbed. Specific features due to the nonequilibrium nature of the polariton fluid are pointed out. For the present case of a resonant polariton excitation, an effective way to create, trap, and control arrays of vortices is proposed.