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Remote optical addressing of single nano-objects

M. Brun·A. Drezet·H. Mariette·J. C. Woehl·S. Huant
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Abstract

We present a scheme for remotely addressing single nano-objects by means of near-field optical microscopy that makes only use of one of the most fundamental properties of electromagnetic radiation: its polarization. A medium containing optically active nano-objects is covered with a thin metallic film presenting sub-wavelength holes. When the optical tip is positioned some distance away from a hole, surface plasmons in the metal coating are generated which, by turning the polarization plane of the excitation light, transfer the excitation towards a chosen hole and induce emission from the underlying nano-objects. The method, easily applicable to other systems, is demonstrated for single quantum dots (QDs) at low temperature. It may become a valuable tool for future optical applications in the nanoworld.

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M. Brun, A. Drezet, H. Mariette, J. C. Woehl, S. Huant. 2006-12-22. Remote optical addressing of single nano-objects. https://doi.org/10.1209/epl%2Fi2003-00275-y

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