New organic materials and microcavity structures for strong exciton-photon coupling

We discuss the properties of a selection of cyanine dyes that form J-aggregates with narrow absorption bands, suitable for studying strong exciton-photon coupling in optical microcavities at room temperature. In particular, we show how the optical properties of J-aggregate films can be tailored for microcavity applications. Microcavities are fabricated by lamination of the organic material between 2 dielectric mirrors. Such cavities contain an optical wedge, so the relative tuning between the organic exciton and the cavity mode can be realized by changing the sample position with regard to the light beam. Transmission measurements performed at room temperature show well resolved anticrossing behaviour with Rabi splitting of around 80 meV. Moreover, photoluminescence measurements allow us to study polariton emission under conditions of non-resonant excitation. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)