The Connection of Polaritons and Vacuum Rabi Splitting

TL;DR

This paper reviews the fundamental theory of polaritons, clarifying their connection to phenomena like the Jaynes-Cummings Hamiltonian, Rabi flopping, and vacuum Rabi splitting, to resolve existing confusions.

Contribution

It explicitly demonstrates the links between polariton physics and well-known quantum electrodynamics phenomena, enhancing understanding of their theoretical foundations.

Findings

Clarifies the connection between polaritons and the Jaynes-Cummings model

Explains the relationship between polaritons and vacuum Rabi splitting

Provides a comprehensive theoretical review of polariton phenomena

Abstract

Polaritons, in particular microcavity exciton-polaritons, have attracted much attention in recent years, as the phenomena of Bose-Einstein condensation and superfluidity have been observed for these quasiparticles. While the basic physics of these systems is well understood, there has been confusion over the connection of these systems to other phenomena, namely the Jaynes-Cummings Hamiltonian, Rabi flopping, and the vacuum Rabi splitting of atoms in a cavity. This paper reviews the basic theory of polaritons and shows these connections explicitly.