Vibrational polariton transport in disordered media

Area of Science:

• Quantum optics
• Condensed matter physics
• Physical chemistry

Background:

• Strong light-matter interactions significantly influence chemical reactions and energy transport.
• Vibrational polaritons, formed via these interactions, exhibit complex transport phenomena due to photonic correlations and scattering.
• Understanding polariton transport is crucial for controlling reactivity and energy flow.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate vibrational polariton transport regimes using the Ioffe-Regel criterion.
• To identify conditions favoring delocalization and wave transport under varying experimental parameters.
• To compare transport phenomena between vibrational polaritons and organic electronic excitons.

Main Methods:

• Application of the Ioffe-Regel criterion to determine vibrational polariton mobility edges.
• Analysis of transport diagrams under variable light-matter detuning, disorder, and interaction strength.
• Correlation of theoretical findings with experimental observations on polariton effects in reactivity.

Main Results:

• Distinct regimes of delocalization and transport were identified based on experimental conditions.
• Macroscopic delocalization is favored by negative detuning and strong light-matter interactions.
• Persistent macroscopic lower polariton delocalization and wave transport are predicted even with inelastic scattering and low photonic weight.

Conclusions:

• The study reveals a rich diversity of transport phenomena in vibrational strong coupling.
• Theoretical transport diagrams provide insights into controlling polariton delocalization.
• Experimental persistence of wave transport in lower polaritons is expected, challenging previous assumptions.