Imaging the local density of states of optical corrals

Cédric Chicanne (1) , Thierry David (2) , R. Quidant (1) , Jean-Claude Weeber (2) , Y. Lacroute (2) , Eric Bourillot (2) , Alain Dereux (2) , Gérard Colas Des Francs (2) , Christian Girard (3)

1 LPUB - Laboratoire de Physique de l'Université de Bourgogne
2 ICB - Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire Carnot de Bourgogne
3 CEMES - Centre d'élaboration de matériaux et d'études structurales

This paper reports the experimental observation, at optical frequencies, of the electromagnetic local density of states established by nanostructures corresponding to the recently introduced concept of optical corral [G. Colas des Francs et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 4950 (2001)]. The images obtained by a scanning near-field optical microscope under specific operational conditions are found in agreement with the theoretical maps of the optical local density of states. A clear functionality of detection by the scanning near-field optical microscope is thereby identified since the theoretical maps are computed without including any specific tip model.

Mots clés: SURFACE-PLASMONS; SCATTERING; INTERFERENCE; CONFINEMENT; LIGHT; numbers: 7867Bf; 0779Fc; 7868 +m

Domaines: Micro et nanotechnologies/Microélectronique; Optique [physics.optics]; Optique / photonique

Cédric Chicanne, Thierry David, R. Quidant, Jean-Claude Weeber, Y. Lacroute, et al.. Imaging the local density of states of optical corrals. Physical Review Letters, 2002, 88 (9), pp.097402. ⟨10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.097402⟩. ⟨hal-00472366⟩