Project description
Harnessing novel light–molecule interactions in cavities
Light–matter interactions are of critical importance to many applications, and polaritons are one of the most interesting examples. These hybrid particles consist of photons strongly coupled to an electric dipole. Examples include electron–hole pairs in semiconductors and the oscillating electrons at a metal’s surface that form surface–plasmon polaritons. On a slightly larger scale, molecular polaritons can emerge under certain conditions in confined electromagnetic fields such as those that occur in optical cavities. The EU-funded QuantumLight project is investigating the nature of these interactions with an extensive theoretical modelling campaign. Increased understanding and thus control of these exotic light–matter interactions will foster innovation in quantum chemistry and photonics.
Objective
The chemistry of light-matter states (polaritonic chemistry) is a relatively new research area in chemistry. Recent experiments have demonstrated that molecular polaritons can have a profound impact on the outcome of chemical reactions taking place inside cavities. Molecular polaritons are formed when the molecular degrees of freedom couple strongly with the modes of a quantum field. From a theoretical point of view the experiments are highly complex, with many different interactions taking place, and a detailed theoretical understanding of the observations is still uncertain. The mission of QuantumLight is to explore, using advanced theoretical modeling, the phenomena that arise when quantum fields interact with molecules and the possibilities that emerge for chemistry. Detailed theoretical and computational understanding of these phenomena will open completely new ways to control and manipulate molecular systems and study new states of matter. The theoretical foundation is cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED), and it will, when combined with the methodologies of quantum chemistry, enable a predictive computational framework for interpretation and future design of polaritonic chemistry. The QuantumLight project will develop and apply accurate electronic structure methods for molecules interacting with quantum fields, in particular coupled cluster theory. Different types of quantum fields will be studied, focusing on those that appear inside optical cavities and the surface plasmon polariton field that is formed by metallic nanoparticles and nanogaps. Applications of the methodology will include ultrafast dynamics in photochemistry, molecules in chiral cavities, electron-photon dynamics, X-ray spectroscopy in cavities, and polariton-assisted chemical reactions.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2020-ADG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
7491 Trondheim
Norway
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.