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DS: Fachverband Dünne Schichten
DS 11: [O] Plasmonics and Nanophotonics II (Joint Session DS/O/HL)
DS 11.5: Talk
Tuesday, March 23, 2010, 16:00–16:15, H2
Plasmon Hybridization Enhances the Nonlinear Response of Single Metal Nanoparticles — •Thorsten Schumacher1,2, Kai Kratzer1,2, David Molnar1,2, and Markus Lippitz1,2 — 1Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung, Stuttgart — 24. Physikalisches Institut, Universität Stuttgart
The optical investigation of single metal nanoparticles is limited to rather large sizes due to their weak influence on focused laser radiation. Therefore it is very difficult to detect small dielectric variations, which is crucial for modern plasmonic nanosensors. We induce small, periodic variations of a nanoparticle's plasmonic properties by a heating pump puls that triggers acoustical breathing oscillations. The particle's response is monitored by a probe pulse. An optical nanoantenna increases the influence of these single dielectric objects on the laser focus. Such an antenna can be implemented by placing a bigger nanoparticle close to the smaller one that is probed.
We will show measurements of single metal nanoparticles' acoustic breathing modes as well as their first antenna enhanced detection. A model of the antenna-effect of plasmon hybridisation is presented. At the end, it allows us to analyze the individual nanomechanical properties of tiny single metal nanoparticles and study plasmonic coupling effects, without averaging over big ensembles.