Two-photon injection of polaritons in semiconductor microstructures

We experimentally demonstrate that two-photon pumping of "dark" excitons in quantum wells embedded in semiconductor microcavities can result in exciton-polariton injection and photon lasing. In the case of a semiconductor micropillar pumped at half of the exciton frequency, we observe a clear threshold behavior, characteristic of the vertical cavity surface emitting laser transition. These results are interpreted in terms of stimulated emission of terahertz photons, which allows for conversion of "dark" excitons into exciton-polaritons.