Strong light-matter interactions in hybrid polaritonic systems

TL;DR

This article reviews various architectures and phenomena of strong light-matter coupling in hybrid polaritonic systems, emphasizing their impact on optical, electronic, and chemical properties.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive survey of architectures, phenomena, and emerging regimes in hybrid polaritonic systems supporting strong and ultrastrong coupling.

Findings

Strong coupling modifies charge transport and chemical reactivity.

Examples of polariton effects on energy flow are discussed.

Emerging regimes like dark-strong coupling broaden the field.

Abstract

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.