Terahertz cavity hybridization of collective proteins vibrations
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arXiv
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2026
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| _version_ | 1866915864580718592 |
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| author | Perez-Martin, Elsa Bonnet, Laurent Fang, Songlin Bannink, Jelle Vrouwe, Elwin Bray, Cedric Teppe, Frederic Ruffenach, Sandra Strupiechonski, Elodie Zhang, Zhedong Torres, Jeremie |
| author_facet | Perez-Martin, Elsa Bonnet, Laurent Fang, Songlin Bannink, Jelle Vrouwe, Elwin Bray, Cedric Teppe, Frederic Ruffenach, Sandra Strupiechonski, Elodie Zhang, Zhedong Torres, Jeremie |
| contents | Hybrid light-matter states have transformed photonics, yet their realization with driven collective vibrations in biological systems remains an open challenge. Here we show that optically pumped R-phycoerythrin proteins at room temperature support coherent sub-terahertz vibrational modes consistent with Frohlich condensation, and that these modes hybridize with confined terahertz cavity photons in a microfluidic cavity platform. The resulting spectra exhibit a resolved doublet, power- and concentration-dependent redistribution of spectral weight, and linewidth narrowing indicative of cavity-modified dissipation. Quantitative analysis reveals collective square-root of N-scaling of the coupling strength, with cooperativity and splitting-to-linewidth ratios exceeding unity, consistent with the onset of strong collective coupling driven by the vibrational molecular mode. A microscopic nonequilibrium analysis further indicates that the relaxation timescale toward the Frohlich polariton state is on the order of 1-10 microseconds. These findings identify terahertz cavities as a platform for stabilizing and controlling collective molecular vibration dynamics and open opportunities for cavity-engineered vibrational spectroscopy, label-free biosensing and photonic control of energy transport in complex biomolecular systems. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_14476 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Terahertz cavity hybridization of collective proteins vibrations Perez-Martin, Elsa Bonnet, Laurent Fang, Songlin Bannink, Jelle Vrouwe, Elwin Bray, Cedric Teppe, Frederic Ruffenach, Sandra Strupiechonski, Elodie Zhang, Zhedong Torres, Jeremie Other Condensed Matter Hybrid light-matter states have transformed photonics, yet their realization with driven collective vibrations in biological systems remains an open challenge. Here we show that optically pumped R-phycoerythrin proteins at room temperature support coherent sub-terahertz vibrational modes consistent with Frohlich condensation, and that these modes hybridize with confined terahertz cavity photons in a microfluidic cavity platform. The resulting spectra exhibit a resolved doublet, power- and concentration-dependent redistribution of spectral weight, and linewidth narrowing indicative of cavity-modified dissipation. Quantitative analysis reveals collective square-root of N-scaling of the coupling strength, with cooperativity and splitting-to-linewidth ratios exceeding unity, consistent with the onset of strong collective coupling driven by the vibrational molecular mode. A microscopic nonequilibrium analysis further indicates that the relaxation timescale toward the Frohlich polariton state is on the order of 1-10 microseconds. These findings identify terahertz cavities as a platform for stabilizing and controlling collective molecular vibration dynamics and open opportunities for cavity-engineered vibrational spectroscopy, label-free biosensing and photonic control of energy transport in complex biomolecular systems. |
| title | Terahertz cavity hybridization of collective proteins vibrations |
| topic | Other Condensed Matter |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.14476 |