Polaritons in binary nanoparticle superlattices

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Holger Lange; Professorin Dr. Stephanie Reich
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics ; Solid State and Surface Chemistry, Material Synthesis
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 504656879

Nanoparticle supercrystals are three-dimensional lattices of nanoparticles with crystallineorder. Plasmonic supercrystals that are formed of metallic nanoparticles show extraordinary optical properties and sample extreme ranges of light-matter coupling.Light drives the free electrons of metallic nanoparticles into collective oscillations that are called plasmons. The plasmons of supercrystals form continuous bands with extremely high oscillator strength that hybridize with photons into polaritons, mixed light-matter states.This research field is still in its infancy, because only few systems have been identified that actually reach such strong coupling regimes with visible light.In this project, we will explore binary plasmonic supercrystals as materials for deep strong light-matter coupling. We will combine nanoparticles of different size into supercrystals with various lattice structures. To realize optically active materials, we will embed emitters into the lattice and fabricate mixed crystals of plasmonic nanoparticles and semiconducting quantum dots. We will simulate the optical properties of supercrystals tounderstand the polariton formation. The optical properties will be measured by micro-optical and back-focal-plane spectroscopy and luminescence. The collaborative project joins expertise from synthetic and physical chemistry, condensed-matter and theoretical physics.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Dr. Florian Schulz