CHEM In the literature: contested

Do cavity-coupled vibrations change thermal reaction rates

In plain words

Experiments report that tuning a mirror cavity to a molecular vibration speeds up or slows down a reaction by factors of several without shining any light. Whether this effect is real and what causes it is unresolved.

Precise statement

In Fabry-Perot microcavities under vibrational strong coupling (Rabi splitting of order $100\, \mathrm{cm}^{-1}$ for a reactant vibration) and no external pumping, determine whether thermal rate constants $k(T)$ differ from those of identical out-of-cavity or detuned-cavity controls beyond errors from heating, concentration and mixing, and if so identify the mechanism. An answer is a reproducible rate change with controls plus a quantitative theory, or a demonstration that reported changes come from artifacts.

What would settle it

Multi-laboratory measurements with blinded cavity tuning, in situ temperature monitoring and matched controls, combined with a theory that predicts the sign and size of the change.

Status in the literature

Unverified note

In the literature checked (through 2025) positive reports and failed replications coexist and no mechanism is accepted.