arXiv subjects

Sandra Ruffenach

Publications and source records attributed to Sandra Ruffenach.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Terahertz cavity hybridization of collective proteins vibrations

Hybrid light-matter states have transformed photonics, yet their realization with driven collective vibrations in biological systems remains an open challenge. Here we show that optically pumped R-phycoerythrin proteins at room temperature support coherent sub-terahertz vibrational modes consistent with Frohlich condensation, and that these modes hybridize with confined terahertz cavity photons in a microfluidic cavity platform. The resulting spectra exhibit a resolved doublet, power- and concentration-dependent redistribution of spectral weight, and linewidth narrowing indicative of cavity-modified dissipation. Quantitative analysis reveals collective square-root of N-scaling of the coupling strength, with cooperativity and splitting-to-linewidth ratios exceeding unity, consistent with the onset of strong collective coupling driven by the vibrational molecular mode. A microscopic nonequilibrium analysis further indicates that the relaxation timescale toward the Frohlich polariton state is on the order of 1-10 microseconds. These findings identify terahertz cavities as a platform for stabilizing and controlling collective molecular vibration dynamics and open opportunities for cavity-engineered vibrational spectroscopy, label-free biosensing and photonic control of energy transport in complex biomolecular systems.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2025

Resonant Dyakonov-Shur Magnetoplasmons in Graphene Terahertz Photodetectors

Graphene plasmons confine incident terahertz fields far below the diffraction limit and, when hosted by a gate-defined Fabry-Perot cavity, enable electrically tunable, frequency-selective photodetectors. In a magnetic field, these plasmons hybridize with the cyclotron motion to form magnetoplasmons, offering a platform for fundamental studies and for nonreciprocal, spectrally selective, ultrasensitive terahertz photonics. However, implementing magnetoplasmon-assisted resonant transistors at terahertz frequencies has remained challenging so far. Here we use gate-dependent, on-chip terahertz photocurrent spectroscopy combined with a perpendicular magnetic field to resolve and probe the evolution of resonant magnetoplasmons in antenna-coupled monolayer and bilayer graphene TeraFETs. In monolayer graphene the dispersion reflects the Dirac nature of the carriers, exhibiting a non-monotonic density dependence due to the interplay of plasma resonance and cyclotron motion, with an inflection point at maximal plasmon-cyclotron coupling. In contrast, in bilayer graphene we recover and map a magnetoplasmon dispersion consistent with the conventional Schr\"odinger-type picture. These results establish graphene TeraFET devices as a robust on-chip platform for resonant magnetoplasmonics at terahertz frequencies, enabling magnetically programmable, frequency-selective photonics and opening avenues toward photodetectors with enhanced sensitivity.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Unveiling Long-Range Forces in Light Harvesting Proteins: Pivotal Roles of Temperature and Light

Electrodynamic interactions between biomolecules are of potential biological interest for signaling warranting investigation of their activation through various mechanisms in living systems. Here, using as model system a light harvesting protein within the phycobilisome antenna system of red algae, we proved that not only light exposure but also thermal energy alone can trigger attractive electrodynamic interactions up to hundreds of nanometer. The latter are sustained by low frequency collective modes and while the second mode appears only upon illumination, the fundamental one can be activated by temperature alone. Activation of such collective modes and ED interactions might influence conformational rearrangements and energy transport within the phycobilisome antenna system. This is a paradigm-shift that underscores the immense potential of biological systems in exploiting different forms of input energy to achieve optimal energy transfer.

physics.bio-ph↗

arXiv2022

Experimental evidence for long-distance electrodynamic intermolecular forces

Both classical and quantum electrodynamics predict the existence of dipole-dipole long-range electrodynamic intermolecular forces; however, these have never been hitherto experimentally observed. The discovery of completely new and unanticipated forces acting between biomolecules could have considerable impact on our understanding of the dynamics and functioning of the molecular machines at work in living organisms. Here, using two independent experiments, on the basis of different physical effects detected by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and terahertz spectroscopy, respectively, we demonstrate experimentally the activation of resonant electrodynamic intermolecular forces. This is an unprecedented experimental proof of principle of a physical phenomenon that, having been observed for biomacromolecules and with long-range action (up to 1000 Angstroms), could be of importance for biology. In addition to thermal fluctuations that drive molecular motion randomly, these resonant (and thus selective) electrodynamic forces may contribute to molecular encounters in the crowded cellular space.

physics.bio-ph↗