The Effect of Coupling Mode in the Vibrational Strong Coupling Regime

Abstract

Hybrid light-matter states, known as polaritons, are the result of strong coupling between light and matter. The formation of polaritons yields a new method to tune the energetics of molecular systems, thus enabling the modification of physical and chemical properties without the need for chemical synthesis. To date, only proof-of-principle studies have been demonstrated, and, to increase the relevance of earlier achievements, bridging the gap between quantum electrodynamic length scales and chemical synthesis length scales is necessary. In the present study, we show that the coupling strength of the light-matter interaction is independent of the thickness of the Fabry-Pérot cavity used, and that the energy dissipation rate falls with increasing cavity thickness. Using planar microcavities of different thicknesses, we have shown that the size of the cavities can be upscaled without reducing the strength of the strong interaction between light and matter. This can be done up to a length scale commonly used in flow chemistry, thus paving the way for a new optofluidic method that may help to overcome challenges in organic chemistry.