Molecules in cavities: topological phases and polariton chemistry*

I’ll showcase some opportunities that molecular polaritons offer within chemical physics. First, I’ll describe theoretical models on how topologically nontrivial phases can be realized in molecular polaritons. Next, I will discuss some intriguing predictions of photophysical and photochemical properties of molecules upon coupling to confined electromagnetic modes. These include changes in photoluminescence, energy transfer, and reaction dynamics. We conclude with lessons learned about the relevant time and energy scales to develop general strategies to harness molecular polaritons to control molecular processes.