Polariton transport in 2D semiconductors: Phonon-mediated transitions between ballistic, superdiffusive, and exciton-limited regimes

Jamie M. Fitzgerald; Roberto Rosati; Ermin Malic

doi:10.1126/sciadv.aea3495

journal article Nov 14, 2025

Polariton transport in 2D semiconductors: Phonon-mediated transitions between ballistic, superdiffusive, and exciton-limited regimes

Jamie M. Fitzgerald

Roberto Rosati

Ermin Malic

Science Advances Vol. 11 No. 46 · American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

View at Publisher Save 10.1126/sciadv.aea3495

Abstract

Exciton transport in 2D semiconductors holds promise for room temperature, ultracompact optoelectronic devices, but it is limited by short propagation distances. Hybridization of excitons with cavity photons to form exciton-polaritons can enhance the propagation by orders of magnitude, enabling a coherent, ballistic transport. However, a microscopic understanding of the role of phonons is still lacking, particularly regarding their influence on the crossover from the ballistic to the diffusive polariton transport regime. Here, we investigate the spatiotemporal polariton dynamics in MoSe
2
monolayers at moderate to high temperatures, explicitly including the phonon-mediated coupling to the intervalley exciton reservoir. We identify three distinct transport regimes: (i) an initial subpicosecond ballistic-like regime characterized by a phonon-induced velocity renormalization, (ii) a transient, few-picosecond superdiffusive regime characterized by strongly enhanced diffusion, and (iii) a slower, exciton-limited diffusion following thermalization. The gained microscopic insights will trigger and guide future experimental studies on the phonon-mediated polariton transport in atomically thin semiconductors.

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Details

Published: Nov 14, 2025
Vol/Issue: 11(46)

Authors

J

Jamie M. Fitzgerald

Department of Physics, Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35032 Marburg, Germany.

R

Roberto Rosati

Department of Physics, Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35032 Marburg, Germany.

E

Ermin Malic

Department of Physics, Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35032 Marburg, Germany.

Funding

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Award: 524612380

Open Access Publishing Fund of Philipps-Universität Marburg

Cite This Article

Jamie M. Fitzgerald, Roberto Rosati, Ermin Malic (2025). Polariton transport in 2D semiconductors: Phonon-mediated transitions between ballistic, superdiffusive, and exciton-limited regimes. Science Advances, 11(46). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aea3495

Polariton transport in 2D semiconductors: Phonon-mediated transitions between ballistic, superdiffusive, and exciton-limited regimes

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