Single-molecule optomechanics in "picocavities"
Accepted version
Peer-reviewed
Repository URI
Repository DOI
Change log
Authors
Abstract
Trapping light with noble metal nanostructures overcomes the diffraction limit and can confine light to volumes typically on the order of 30 cubic nanometers. We found that individual atomic features inside the gap of a plasmonic nanoassembly can localize light to volumes well below 1 cubic nanometer ("picocavities"), enabling optical experiments on the atomic scale. These atomic features are dynamically formed and disassembled by laser irradiation. Although unstable at room temperature, picocavities can be stabilized at cryogenic temperatures, allowing single atomic cavities to be probed for many minutes. Unlike traditional optomechanical resonators, such extreme optical confinement yields a factor of 10
Description
Keywords
Journal Title
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
1095-9203
Volume Title
Publisher
Publisher DOI
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/L027151/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/H007024/1)
European Research Council (320503)