Over the past decade, there has been a surge of interest in the ability of hybrid light-matter states to control the properties of matter and chemical reactivity. Such hybrid states can be generated by simply placing a material in the spatially confined electromagnetic field of an optical resonator, such as that provided by two parallel mirrors. This occurs even in the dark because it is electromagnetic fluctuations of the cavity (the vacuum field) that strongly couple with the material. Experimental and theoretical studies have shown that the mere presence of these hybrid states can enhance properties such as transport, magnetism, and superconductivity and modify (bio)chemical reactivity. This emerging field is highly multidisciplinary, and much of its potential has yet to be explored.

在过去的十年中，人们对混合光物质状态控制物质性质和化学反应性的能力产生了浓厚的兴趣。这种混合态可以通过简单地将材料放置在光谐振器的空间受限电磁场中来产生，例如由两个平行反射镜提供的电磁场。即使在黑暗中也会发生这种情况，因为空腔（真空场）的电磁波动与材料强烈耦合。实验和理论研究表明，仅存在这些混合态就可以增强传输、磁性和超导性等性质，并改变（生物）化学反应性。这个新兴领域是高度多学科的，其大部分潜力还有待探索。