Terahertz Light-Matter Interaction beyond Unity Coupling Strength

Achieving control over light matter interaction in custom-tailored nanostructures is at the core of modern quantum electrodynamics. In strongly and ultrastrongly coupled systems, the excitation is repeatedly exchanged between a resonator and an electronic transition at a rate known as the vacuum Rabi frequency Omega(R). For Omega(R) approaching the resonance frequency omega(c) novel quantum phenomena including squeezed states, Dicke super radiant phase transitions, the collapse of the Purcell effect, and a population of the ground state with virtual photon pairs are predicted. Yet, the experimental realization of optical systems with Omega(R)/omega(c) >= 1 has remained elusive. Here, we introduce a paradigm change in the design of light matter coupling by treating the electronic and the photonic components of the system as an entity instead of optimizing them separately. Using the electronic excitation to not only boost the electronic polarization but furthermore tailor the shape of the vacuum mode, we push Omega(R)/omega(c) of cyclotron resonances ultrastrongly coupled to metamaterials far beyond unity. As one prominent illustration of the unfolding possibilities, we calculate a ground state population of 0.37 virtual photons for our best structure with Omega(R)/omega(c) = 1.43 and suggest a realistic experimental scenario for measuring vacuum radiation by cutting-edge terahertz quantum detection

Ultrastrong light-matter coupling beyond unity coupling strength

We introduce a paradigm change in the design of THz light-matter coupled systems by treating the electronic and photonic components on equal footing instead of optimizing them separately. Exploiting both cavity and electronic excitation to confine the vacuum mode, we achieve ΩR/ωc=1.43 for cyclotron resonances ultrastrongly coupled to metamaterials. Under this condition, the vacuum ground state exhibits a record population of 0.37 virtual photons, massively facilitating the envisaged detection of quantum vacuum radiation by diabatic switching of ΩR/ωc

Elevated seminal plasma estradiol and epigenetic inactivation of ESR1 and ESR2 is associated with CP/CPPS

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is associated with urinary tract symptoms and hormonal imbalances amongst others. The heterogeneous clinical presentation, unexplored molecular background and lack of prostate biopsies complicate therapy. Here, using liquid biopsies, we performed a comprehensive translational study on men diagnosed with CP/CPPS type III (n = 50; median age 39.8, range 23-65) and age-matched controls (n = 61; median age 36.8, range 20-69), considering biochemical parameters of blood and ejaculates, and epigenetic regulation of the estrogen receptor genes (ESR1 and ESR2) in leukocytes isolated from blood (systemic regulation) and in somatic cells isolated from ejaculates (local regulation). We found elevated 17β-estradiol (E2) levels in seminal plasma, but not in blood plasma, that was significantly associated with CP/ CPPS and impaired urinary tract symptoms. In ejaculated somatic cells of CP/CPPS patients we found that ESR1 and ESR2 were both significantly higher methylated in CpG-promoters and expressionally down-regulated in comparison to controls. Mast cells are reported to contribute to CP/CPPS and are estrogen responsive. Consistent with this, we found that E2 -treatment of human mast cell lines (HMC-1 and LAD2) resulted in altered cytokine and chemokine expression. Interestingly, in HMC-1 cells, possessing epigenetically inactivated ESR1 and ESR2, E2 -treatment led to a reduced transcription of a number of inflammatory genes. Overall, these data suggest that elevated local E2 levels associate with an epigenetic down-regulation of the estrogen receptors and have a prominent role in CP/CPPS. Investigating E2 levels in semen could therefore serve as a promising biomarker to select patients for estrogen targeted therapy