Visualizing the dynamics of strong light-matter interactions using NEX-GEN-STEM

Polaritons are compositional light-matter quasiparticles that have enabled remarkable breakthroughs in physics.

When nanoparticle plasmons strongly couple to semiconductor excitons, a new attractive class of nanoscale polariton (plexciton) is created at room-temperature.

Optical microscopy has helped us discover much of what we know about polariton physics, but its poor spatial resolution is extremely limiting and leaves much of nanoscale polariton physics hidden.This project will pioneer new imaging methods for polariton research called NEX-GEN-STEM (short for next-generation STEM).

NEX-GEN-STEM will open up the possibility image the detailed structure, composition, bonding, and properties of hybrid materials composed of single nanoparticles and 2D transition metal dichalcogenides at the atomic-scale and with sub-pm precision.

The challenging ability to quantitatively map the electromagnetic near-fields surrounding polaritons will also be developed.NEX-GEN-STEM will be used to understanding fundamentally different types of plexcitons, including bright, dark and new exotic polaritons.

The project will pioneer studying polariton dynamics during in situ NEX-GEN-STEM observations while manipulating their properties using electricity and temperature.

This project is expected to discover new polariton-related physics that will help us design better strong light-matter interaction materials, and open up an extremely rich playground for future research.