Apparent Resonance Splitting in Self-Coupled Excitonic Systems

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Main Authors: Sarbajna, Avishek, Li, Qitong, Danielsen, Dorte Rubæk, Selvin, Skyler Peitso, Nguyen, Duc Hieu, Doan, Manh-Ha, Bøggild, Peter, Brongersma, Mark L., Raza, Søren
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Published: 2025
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author Sarbajna, Avishek
Li, Qitong
Danielsen, Dorte Rubæk
Selvin, Skyler Peitso
Nguyen, Duc Hieu
Doan, Manh-Ha
Bøggild, Peter
Brongersma, Mark L.
Raza, Søren
author_facet Sarbajna, Avishek
Li, Qitong
Danielsen, Dorte Rubæk
Selvin, Skyler Peitso
Nguyen, Duc Hieu
Doan, Manh-Ha
Bøggild, Peter
Brongersma, Mark L.
Raza, Søren
contents Thin films of high-refractive-index excitonic materials enable self-coupling by simultaneously supporting intrinsic excitonic transitions and optical resonances. These optical resonances take the form of Fabry-Perot resonances in thick films and absorption resonances in ultrathin films placed on metallic substrates. Here, we investigate whether these optical resonances lead to true exciton-photon hybridization. Using far-field reflectance and spectrally resolved photocurrent measurements, we study tungsten disulfide (WS$_2$) flakes on both metallic and dielectric substrates across a range of thicknesses. While reflectance spectra for ultrathin flakes exhibit resonance splitting between excitons and absorption resonances, our photocurrent measurements reveal only excitonic peaks, indicating that no polaritons are formed. In contrast, thicker flakes exhibit Fabry-Perot resonances that strongly couple to excitons, resulting in clear splitting in both reflectance and photocurrent spectra, and providing evidence of polariton formation. We further show that the polariton resonances can be tuned through the reflection phase at the WS$_2$-substrate interface by changing the substrate material. In addition to coupling with the strong A-exciton, we observe polariton formation involving the weaker B-exciton at shorter wavelengths, as well as higher-order hybridization where both excitons interact simultaneously with a single Fabry-Perot resonance. These findings clarify the distinction between apparent and true strong coupling in excitonic materials and demonstrate how reflection phase and flake thickness can be used to engineer light-matter interactions.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2508_11370
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Apparent Resonance Splitting in Self-Coupled Excitonic Systems
Sarbajna, Avishek
Li, Qitong
Danielsen, Dorte Rubæk
Selvin, Skyler Peitso
Nguyen, Duc Hieu
Doan, Manh-Ha
Bøggild, Peter
Brongersma, Mark L.
Raza, Søren
Optics
Thin films of high-refractive-index excitonic materials enable self-coupling by simultaneously supporting intrinsic excitonic transitions and optical resonances. These optical resonances take the form of Fabry-Perot resonances in thick films and absorption resonances in ultrathin films placed on metallic substrates. Here, we investigate whether these optical resonances lead to true exciton-photon hybridization. Using far-field reflectance and spectrally resolved photocurrent measurements, we study tungsten disulfide (WS$_2$) flakes on both metallic and dielectric substrates across a range of thicknesses. While reflectance spectra for ultrathin flakes exhibit resonance splitting between excitons and absorption resonances, our photocurrent measurements reveal only excitonic peaks, indicating that no polaritons are formed. In contrast, thicker flakes exhibit Fabry-Perot resonances that strongly couple to excitons, resulting in clear splitting in both reflectance and photocurrent spectra, and providing evidence of polariton formation. We further show that the polariton resonances can be tuned through the reflection phase at the WS$_2$-substrate interface by changing the substrate material. In addition to coupling with the strong A-exciton, we observe polariton formation involving the weaker B-exciton at shorter wavelengths, as well as higher-order hybridization where both excitons interact simultaneously with a single Fabry-Perot resonance. These findings clarify the distinction between apparent and true strong coupling in excitonic materials and demonstrate how reflection phase and flake thickness can be used to engineer light-matter interactions.
title Apparent Resonance Splitting in Self-Coupled Excitonic Systems
topic Optics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.11370