Theoretical and quantum mechanical deconstruction of vibrational energy transfer pathways modified by collective vibrational strong coupling
Abstract Recent experiments have demonstrated that vibrational strong coupling (VSC) between molecular vibrations and the optical cavity field can modify vibrational energy transfer (VET) processes in molecular systems. However, the underlying mechanisms and the behavior of individual molecules unde...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62117-x |
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| author | Qi Yu Dong H. Zhang Joel M. Bowman |
| author_facet | Qi Yu Dong H. Zhang Joel M. Bowman |
| author_sort | Qi Yu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Recent experiments have demonstrated that vibrational strong coupling (VSC) between molecular vibrations and the optical cavity field can modify vibrational energy transfer (VET) processes in molecular systems. However, the underlying mechanisms and the behavior of individual molecules under collective VSC remain largely incomplete. In this work, we combine state-of-the-art quantum vibrational spectral calculation, quantum wavepacket dynamics simulations, and ab initio machine-learning potential to elucidate how the vibrational dynamics of water OH stretches can be altered by VSC. Taking the $${({{{{\rm{H}}}}}_{2}{{{\rm{O}}}})}_{21}$$ ( H 2 O ) 21 -cavity system as an example, we show that the collective VSC breaks the localization picture, promotes the delocalization of OH stretches, and opens new intermolecular vibrational energy pathways involving both neighboring and remote water molecules. The manipulation of the VET process relies on the alignment of the transition dipole moment orientations of the corresponding vibrational states. The emergence of new energy transfer pathways is found to be attributed to cavity-induced vibrational resonance involving OH stretches across different water molecules, along with alterations in mode coupling patterns. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-12a01cd4abaa46228cdc54095eda0cd7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-12a01cd4abaa46228cdc54095eda0cd72025-08-20T04:02:55ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111210.1038/s41467-025-62117-xTheoretical and quantum mechanical deconstruction of vibrational energy transfer pathways modified by collective vibrational strong couplingQi Yu0Dong H. Zhang1Joel M. Bowman2Department of Chemistry, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Chemistry, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Chemistry, Emory University and Cherry L. Emerson Center for Scientific ComputationAbstract Recent experiments have demonstrated that vibrational strong coupling (VSC) between molecular vibrations and the optical cavity field can modify vibrational energy transfer (VET) processes in molecular systems. However, the underlying mechanisms and the behavior of individual molecules under collective VSC remain largely incomplete. In this work, we combine state-of-the-art quantum vibrational spectral calculation, quantum wavepacket dynamics simulations, and ab initio machine-learning potential to elucidate how the vibrational dynamics of water OH stretches can be altered by VSC. Taking the $${({{{{\rm{H}}}}}_{2}{{{\rm{O}}}})}_{21}$$ ( H 2 O ) 21 -cavity system as an example, we show that the collective VSC breaks the localization picture, promotes the delocalization of OH stretches, and opens new intermolecular vibrational energy pathways involving both neighboring and remote water molecules. The manipulation of the VET process relies on the alignment of the transition dipole moment orientations of the corresponding vibrational states. The emergence of new energy transfer pathways is found to be attributed to cavity-induced vibrational resonance involving OH stretches across different water molecules, along with alterations in mode coupling patterns.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62117-x |
| spellingShingle | Qi Yu Dong H. Zhang Joel M. Bowman Theoretical and quantum mechanical deconstruction of vibrational energy transfer pathways modified by collective vibrational strong coupling Nature Communications |
| title | Theoretical and quantum mechanical deconstruction of vibrational energy transfer pathways modified by collective vibrational strong coupling |
| title_full | Theoretical and quantum mechanical deconstruction of vibrational energy transfer pathways modified by collective vibrational strong coupling |
| title_fullStr | Theoretical and quantum mechanical deconstruction of vibrational energy transfer pathways modified by collective vibrational strong coupling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Theoretical and quantum mechanical deconstruction of vibrational energy transfer pathways modified by collective vibrational strong coupling |
| title_short | Theoretical and quantum mechanical deconstruction of vibrational energy transfer pathways modified by collective vibrational strong coupling |
| title_sort | theoretical and quantum mechanical deconstruction of vibrational energy transfer pathways modified by collective vibrational strong coupling |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62117-x |
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