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Physics Today

Inducing new material properties with hybrid light–matter states

Cyriaque Genet, Jérôme Faist, Thomas W. Ebbesen

Published May 1, 2021• 50 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Even in the absence of light, coupling cavities with molecules and materials can modify their chemical reactivity, conductivity, and more.
DOI
10.1063/pt.3.4749

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Strong light-matter coupling gives rise to polaritons - hybrid excitations whose mixed photonic and matter character enables control over optical, electronic and chemical properties. This Feature Article surveys the main architectures supporting polariton formation, including photonic microcavities, plasmonic nanostructures, open cavities and metasurfaces, and outlines how inorganic semiconductors, organic aggregates and hybrid systems access strong and ultrastrong coupling. Key phenomena such as coherent dynamics, vibronic interactions, dark-state reservoirs and polariton-mediated energy and electron transport are discussed, together with the experimental and theoretical tools used to study them. We highlight examples where strong coupling modifies charge transport, energy flow and chemical reactivity, and we summarize emerging regimes, including intermediate and dark-strong coupling, that broaden the landscape of hybrid light-matter physics.