Strongly enhanced molecular fluorescence inside a nanoscale waveguide gap

VJ Sorger, N Pholchai, E Cubukcu, RF Oulton… - Nano …, 2011 - ACS Publications
VJ Sorger, N Pholchai, E Cubukcu, RF Oulton, P Kolchin, C Borschel, M Gnauck, C Ronning
Nano letters, 2011ACS Publications
We experimentally demonstrate dramatically enhanced light–matter interaction for
molecules placed inside the nanometer scale gap of a plasmonic waveguide. We observe
spontaneous emission rate enhancements of up to about 60 times due to strong optical
localization in two dimensions. This rate enhancement is a nonresonant nature of the
plasmonic waveguide under study overcoming the fundamental bandwidth limitation of
conventional devices. Moreover, we show that about 85% of molecular emission couples …
We experimentally demonstrate dramatically enhanced light–matter interaction for molecules placed inside the nanometer scale gap of a plasmonic waveguide. We observe spontaneous emission rate enhancements of up to about 60 times due to strong optical localization in two dimensions. This rate enhancement is a nonresonant nature of the plasmonic waveguide under study overcoming the fundamental bandwidth limitation of conventional devices. Moreover, we show that about 85% of molecular emission couples into the waveguide highlighting the dominance of the nanoscale optical mode in competing with quenching processes. Such optics at molecular length scales paves the way toward integrated on-chip photon source, rapid transfer of quantum information, and efficient light extraction for solid-state-lighting devices.
ACS Publications