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Overview of Electron Microscopy

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Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Utilization of Plasmonic and Photonic Crystal Nanostructures for Enhanced Micro- and Nanoparticle Manipulation

Utilization of Plasmonic and Photonic Crystal Nanostructures for Enhanced Micro- and Nanoparticle Manipulation

Published on: September 27, 2011

Imaging confined electrons with plasmonic light.

Guillaume Schull¹, Michael Becker, Richard Berndt

¹Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, D-24098 Kiel, Germany.

Physical Review Letters

|October 15, 2008

Summary

Scanning tunneling microscopy revealed subnanometer variations in plasmonic light emission spectra on a gold surface. These spatial variations show surface standing wave patterns of confined electrons.

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Published on: December 11, 2013

Area of Science:

Surface science
Plasmonics
Scanning probe microscopy

Background:

Plasmonic light emission from scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) junctions is sensitive to surface topography and electronic structure.
Understanding nanoscale variations in light emission is crucial for surface characterization.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate spatial variations in plasmonic light emission spectra from a Au(111) surface using STM.
To correlate light emission patterns with surface features like islands and step edges.

Main Methods:

Utilized scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to probe a Au(111) surface.
Recorded variations in plasmonic light emission spectra at different tip positions.
Analyzed subnanometer spatial variations in light intensity at various photon energies.

Main Results:

Observed subnanometer spatial variations in light emission intensity across a Au(111) surface.
Detected distinct light emission patterns near triangular islands and surface step edges.
Correlated these variations with surface standing wave patterns of confined electrons.

Conclusions:

Spatial variations in STM-induced plasmonic light emission provide insights into nanoscale electronic properties.
Surface standing waves of two-dimensional confined electrons dictate the observed light emission patterns.
STM-based plasmon spectroscopy is a powerful tool for mapping surface electronic states.