Experimental implementation of tunable hybrid Tamm-microcavity modes

Mode hybridization is a unique way to manipulate the mode inside a fixed cavity or at interface. For example, Tamm plasmon-polariton at solid interface can be spectrally shifted without tuning the interface. Experimental implementation of tunable hybrid Tamm-microcavity modes is reported. The hybrid modes are excited in a one-dimensional photonic crystal bounded with a gold layer by attaching a nematic liquid crystal microcavity. Coupling between Tamm plasmon-polariton and microcavity modes leads to repulsion of their dispersion curves controlled by the refractive index of a liquid crystal and the polarization of incident light. Effective tuning of hybrid modes through heating or applying an external electric field to the liquid crystal layer is demonstrated. The experimentally measured strength coupling value between Tamm and microcavity modes was 20.7 meV.