Polaritonic Control of Blackbody Infrared Radiative Dissociation

Vibrational strong light-matter coupling offers a promising approach for controlling chemical reactivity with infrared microcavities. While recent research has examined potential mechanisms for this phenomenon, many important questions remain, including what type of reactions can be modified and to what extent this modification can be achieved. In this study, we explore the dynamics of Blackbody Infrared Radiative Dissociation (BIRD) in microcavities under weak and strong light-matter interaction regimes. Using a Master equation approach, we simulate the effects of infrared field confinement and polariton formation on BIRD rates for diatomic molecules weakly coupled to the radiation field. We present a framework explaining how infrared microcavities influence BIRD kinetics, highlighting the importance of overtone transitions in the process. Our findings outline conditions under which significant enhancement or mild suppression of BIRD rates can be achieved, offering insights into practical limitations and new strategies for controlling chemistry within infrared resonators.