Research Interests
Quantum light-matter interaction and polaritonic chemistry
​When molecules interact strongly with confined electromagnetic fields, such as inside optical cavities or near nanostructured surfaces, they can form hybrid light–matter states known as polaritons. Polaritons offer a unique framework for shaping molecular reactivity and tuning the quantum properties of light, opening new possibilities at the intersection of chemistry and photonics. Understanding the mutual imprinting between molecules and quantized light fields is central to developing new approaches in polaritonic chemistry and quantum molecular photonics. We are particularly drawn to the potential of these systems as platforms for uncovering molecular quantum dynamics through their imprint on the light field.
Metastable (resonance) states in chemical reactions
Metastable quantum states, also known as resonances, play a crucial role in processes such as dissociative electron attachment, tunneling, cold collisions, and interatomic Coulombic decay (ICD). Although short-lived, these states often govern the outcome of a reaction by enabling otherwise inaccessible pathways.
A particularly important class is autoionizing resonances, which decay via electron emission. These can be described using complex potential energy surfaces, which naturally encode both the energy landscape and the finite lifetimes of the states. This framework offers valuable insight into the interplay between different molecular degrees of freedom and how ionization affects nuclear dynamics and reaction pathways.
Interface between non-Hermitian quantum mechanics and open quantum systems
Many systems are inherently open: they exchange energy and particles with their surroundings, undergo irreversible processes, or experience dissipation. Non-Hermitian quantum mechanics offers a complementary perspective to standard open quantum systems approaches, using complex energies and effective Hamiltonians to model decay and loss directly. We are interested in how these two distinct formalisms can be combined in order to gain new physical insights.
