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Updated: Aug 14, 2026
Measurement of Scattering Nonlinearities from a Single Plasmonic Nanoparticle
Published on: January 3, 2016
Calibration of dynamic molecular rulers based on plasmon coupling between gold nanoparticles
Björn M Reinhard1, Merek Siu, Harish Agarwal
1Physics Department, Biophysics Graduate Program, and Chemistry Department, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Abstract:
Pairs of noble metal nanoparticles can be used to measure distances via the distance dependence of their plasmon coupling. These "plasmon rulers" offer exceptional photostability and brightness; however, the advantages and limitations of this approach remain to be explored. Here we report detailed plasmon peak versus separation calibration curves for 42- and 87-nm-diameter particle pairs, determine their measurement errors, and describe experimental procedures to improve their performance in biology, nanotechnology, and materials sciences.
