How to Obtain the Correct Rabi Splitting in a Subwavelength Interacting System

We unambiguously extract the individual decay channels of a coupled plasmon-exciton system by using correlated single-particle absorption and scattering measurements. A remarkable difference in the two channels is present─clear Rabi splitting in the plasmon channel but no Rabi splitting in the exciton channel. Discordance in the absorption and scattering spectra are mainly originated from the distinct contributions of plasmon and exciton channels in the absorption and scattering process. Our findings provide insights into plasmon-exciton interaction in an open cavity and can impact the design of plexcitonic devices for ultrafast nonlinear nanophotonics.