Visualizing electromagnetic fields at the nanoscale by single molecule localization.
Nano Lett
; 15(5): 3217-23, 2015 May 13.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25915093
ABSTRACT
Coupling of light to the free electrons at metallic surfaces allows the confinement of electric fields to subwavelength dimensions, far below the optical diffraction limit. While this is routinely used to manipulate light at the nanoscale, in electro-optic devices and enhanced spectroscopic techniques, no characterization technique for imaging the underlying nanoscopic electromagnetic fields exists, which does not perturb the field or employ complex electron beam imaging. Here, we demonstrate the direct visualization of electromagnetic fields on patterned metallic substrates at nanometer resolution, exploiting a strong "autonomous" fluorescence-blinking behavior of single molecules within the confined fields allowing their localization. Use of DNA-constructs for precise positioning of fluorescence dyes on the surface induces this distance-dependent autonomous blinking thus completely obviating the need for exogenous agents or switching methods. Mapping such electromagnetic field distributions at nanometer resolution aids the rational design of nanometals for diverse photonic applications.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
DNA
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Nanotecnologia
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Campos Eletromagnéticos
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Óptica e Fotônica
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2015
Tipo de documento:
Article