Fluorescence relaxation in the near-field of a mesoscopic metallic particle : distance dependence and role of plasmon modes

Gérard Colas Des Francs (1) , Alexandre Bouhelier (1) , Eric Finot (1) , Jean-Claude Weeber (1) , Alain Dereux (1) , Christian Girard (2) , Erik Dujardin (2)

1 ICB - Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire Carnot de Bourgogne
2 CEMES - Centre d'élaboration de matériaux et d'études structurales

We analytically and numerically analyze the fluorescence decay rate of a quantum emitter placed in the vicinity of a spherical metallic particle of mesoscopic size (i.e with dimensions comparable to the emission wavelength). We discuss the efficiency of the radiative decay rate and non–radiative coupling to the particle as well as their distance dependence. The electromagnetic coupling mechanisms between the emitter and the particle are investigated by analyzing the role of the plasmon modes and their nature (dipole, multipole or interface mode). We demonstrate that near-field coupling can be expressed in a simple form verifying the optical theorem for each particle modes.

Mots clés: SINGLE-MOLECULE FLUORESCENCE, SPHERICAL SURFACES, DECAY, RATES

Domaines: Micro et nanotechnologies/Microélectronique

Gérard Colas Des Francs, Alexandre Bouhelier, Eric Finot, Jean-Claude Weeber, Alain Dereux, et al.. Fluorescence relaxation in the near-field of a mesoscopic metallic particle : distance dependence and role of plasmon modes. Optics Express, 2008, 16, pp.17654. ⟨10.1364/OE.16.017654⟩. ⟨hal-00453142⟩