Polaritons Nanophotonics: Physics, Materials and Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past decade, polaritonics has emerged as a transformative field, bridging the gap between fundamental physics and advanced photonic technologies by enabling unprecedented control over light–matter interactions at the nanoscale. By leveraging the coupling between photons and collective excitations—such as phonons, excitons, and plasmons—polaritonic systems transcend the limitations of conventional photonic materials, offering unique optical properties like extreme light confinement, enhanced nonlinearities, and tunable dispersion relations. These capabilities have unlocked new possibilities in nanophotonics, quantum optics, and energy-efficient devices. The engineering of polaritons in diverse materials, from van der Waals crystals and perovskites to hyperbolic metamaterials, has not only deepened our understanding of light–matter interactions but also catalyzed the development of innovative technologies with far-reaching applications.

With this Special Issue, we aim to highlight the latest breakthroughs in polaritonics, with a focus on the design, fabrication, characterization, and application of polaritonic systems in both traditional and emerging materials. We invite contributions that explore the fundamental physics underlying polaritonic phenomena, as well as their practical implementations in cutting-edge devices. We welcome original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and case studies from researchers, academicians, and industry professionals.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Fundamental physics of polaritons, such as strong coupling, bound states in the continuum (BICs), and other foundational aspects of polaritonic systems.
• Newly emerging polariton materials and phenomena.
• Active tuning and dynamic control of polaritonic systems.
• Polaritonic applications for sensing, imaging, spectroscopy, energy harvesting, and enhanced nonlinear effects.

We look forward to receiving your contributions, which will help advance the field of polaritonics and drive its transition from fundamental research to real-world applications.

Dr. Shu Chen
Dr. Shaoxin Shen
Guest Editors

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• fundamental physics of polaritons
• newly emerging polariton materials and phenomena
• active tuning and dynamic control of polaritonic systems
• polaritonic applications for sensing, imaging, spectroscopy, energy harvesting, and enhanced nonlinear effects