Polaritonic Chemistry - Coherent Quantum Control of Molecules with Modified Vacuum Fields

Session

Monday Afternoon

4 May 2026, 13:30

Albano 3: 4205 - SU Conference Room (40 seats) (Albano Building 3)

18. Cavity-Mediated Long-Range Cooperative Coupling between Localized Plasmons and Molecular Excitons

Prof. Tal Schwartz (Tel Aviv University)

04/05/2026, 13:30

Invited Talk

Over the years, strong light-matter coupling has been observed and studied in a plethora of configurations, with microcavities and plasmonic nanostructures being among the most common geometries. Recently, however, hybrid electromagnetic modes that integrate plasmonic and photonic contributions have been suggested as a versatile platforms with distinct advantages for tailoring light–matter...

3. Hybrid Light–Matter States and Energy Flow in Molecular Systems

Tönu Pullerits (Chemical Physics, Lund University)

04/05/2026, 14:00

Invited Talk

Optical microcavities provide a versatile platform for tailoring light–matter interactions and thereby modifying excitation dynamics in molecular systems. In this presentation, we discuss how embedding excitonic materials in Fabry–Pérot microcavities reshapes their relaxation pathways through the formation of hybrid light–matter states, polaritons. Using photosynthetic light-harvesting...

10. Cavity-modified exciton-exciton annihilation in disordered molecular systems

Ilia Sokolovskii (University College London)

04/05/2026, 14:30

Contributed Talk

Recent experiments have shown contradictory effects of strong light-matter coupling on exciton-exciton annihilation (EEA) in organic molecular systems. Here, I will present the results of numerical simulations of polariton dynamics, which reveal the role of strong coupling in changing the EEA rate. These results suggest that in systems with poor exciton mobility, strong coupling allows to...

5. Resonant modification of Van der Waals interactions under vibrational strong coupling

Marit Fiechter (ETH Zürich)

04/05/2026, 15:50

Invited Talk

Experiments have demonstrated that chemical properties, such as reaction rates and equilibrium constants, can be modified under vibrational strong coupling (VSC). However, the mechanism that facilitates this remains ill-understood.
In my talk, I will show how under VSC, Van der Waals interactions can be resonantly modified, and how collective effects and disorder come into play here. I will...

24. Dynamic Fabry–Pérot Cavities for Rigorous Study of Chemical Reactivity Under Vibrational Strong Coupling

Blake S. Simpkins (Naval Research Laboratory, Chemistry Division)

04/05/2026, 16:20

Invited Talk

We present an experimentally and analytically rigorous reexamination of the urethane addition reaction under vibrational strong coupling (VSC) initially reported by Ahn & Simpkins in 2023. Our current results indicate no modification of chemical reaction rates between cavity-coupled and uncoupled systems. The specific causes for the previously measured differences are under investigation....

14. Rotational polaritons in the gas phase

Tamás Szidarovszky (Eötvös Loránd University)

04/05/2026, 16:50

Contributed Talk

This presentation will provide a theoretical perspective on the topic of rotational polaritons formed in THz/microwave cavities. Some of the unique features of rotational strong coupling for the different types of molecular rotors will be presented and discussed, and a gentle introduction to the comprehensive quantum theory of rotational polaritons, based on the more general framework on...

11. Understanding Resonance‑Enabled Polaritonic Control of Hydrogen Transfer Dynamics and Relaxation

Richard Gundermann (University of Potsdam, Institute of Chemistry, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24 - 25 D-14476 Potsdam Germany)

04/05/2026, 17:10

Contributed Talk

Molecular vibro-polaritons are currently discussed as a possible tool to modify ground-state reactivity. They arise when vibrational transitions couple strongly to an electromagnetic field, e.g in a cavity. We present numerical open-system quantum dynamics of thioacetylacetone (TAA) undergoing hydrogen transfer, coupled to a cavity mode and a bath. This model system, previously studied in...