Polarization selection rules in scattering of cavity polaritons

We theoretically discuss scattering of polaritons in semiconductor microcavities by means of a microscopic model. Taking into account the composite character of excitons (formed by an electron and a hole), we analyze the relation between polarizations of incoming and outgoing polariton states under resonant excitation by linearly polarized laser beams with opposite in-plane momenta. In addition to these polarization selection rules, we investigate the nonlinear processes up to the sixth order and we show the origin of an induced anisotropy due to the excitation beams which is responsible for the operation of an optical gate based on polariton-polariton scattering in a microcavity.