title: Theory of strong coupling between quantum emitters and propagating surface plasmons.
abstract: Here we present the theoretical foundation of the strong coupling phenomenon between quantum emitters and propagating surface plasmons observed in two-dimensional metal surfaces. For that purpose, we develop a quantum framework that accounts for the coherent coupling between emitters and surface plasmons and incorporates the presence of dissipation and dephasing. Our formalism is able to reveal the key physical mechanisms that explain the reported phenomenology and also determine the physical parameters that optimize the strong coupling. A discussion regarding the classical or quantum nature of this phenomenon is also presented.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisica Teórica de la Materia Condensada and Condensed Matter Physics Center (IFIMAC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González-Tudela
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisica Teórica de la Materia Condensada and Condensed Matter Physics Center (IFIMAC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Huidobro
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Aragón and Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza, E-50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martín-Moreno
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisica Teórica de la Materia Condensada and Condensed Matter Physics Center (IFIMAC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tejedor
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisica Teórica de la Materia Condensada and Condensed Matter Physics Center (IFIMAC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: García-Vidal