Coupling of light to vibration in quantum materials

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How to confine, couple, and enhance light at nanoscale is a central question of nanophotonics. It has been found that by utilizing specific nano architecture or geometry we can couple and enhance the light to atom or molecules. This will create new mixed states that are part-light and part-matter in nature. In this project, we will explore a new concept in optics using metallic nanostructures interacting with light, that can trap both molecules and light in the same 1 nm cavity. This enables signals to be amplified by more than a billion-fold, allowing to break the classical diffraction limit. The objective of this CDT project is to construct an optical nanocavity tuned to molecular vibrations and investigate its interactions with light. The research will involve developing optical microscopy tools, analysing data, and creating theoretical models to explain the results and assess device performance. This will lead to the potential for low energy optical switches.