Repository logo
 

Nanoscopy through a plasmonic nanolens.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Horton, Matthew J 
Ojambati, Oluwafemi S 
Chikkaraddy, Rohit 
Deacon, William M 
Kongsuwan, Nuttawut  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8037-3100

Abstract

Plasmonics now delivers sensors capable of detecting single molecules. The emission enhancements and nanometer-scale optical confinement achieved by these metallic nanostructures vastly increase spectroscopic sensitivity, enabling real-time tracking. However, the interaction of light with such nanostructures typically loses all information about the spatial location of molecules within a plasmonic hot spot. Here, we show that ultrathin plasmonic nanogaps support complete mode sets which strongly influence the far-field emission patterns of embedded emitters and allow the reconstruction of dipole positions with 1-nm precision. Emitters in different locations radiate spots, rings, and askew halo images, arising from interference of 2 radiating antenna modes differently coupling light out of the nanogap, highlighting the imaging potential of these plasmonic "crystal balls." Emitters at the center are now found to live indefinitely, because they radiate so rapidly.

Description

Keywords

nanogap, nanoscopy, plasmonics, single molecule, super-resolution

Journal Title

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0027-8424
1091-6490

Volume Title

117

Publisher

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/L027151/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/N016920/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/P029426/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/L015978/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/G060649/1)
We acknowledge EPSRC grants EP/N016920/1, EP/L027151/1, and NanoDTC EP/L015978/1. OSO acknowledges support of Rubicon fellowship from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, and RC thanks support from Trinity College Cambridge.