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Measurement of Scattering Nonlinearities from a Single Plasmonic Nanoparticle
Published on: January 3, 2016
Local refractive index sensitivity of plasmonic nanoparticles
Marek Piliarik1, Pavel Kvasnička, Nicolle Galler
1Institute of Photonics and Electronics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Chaberská 57, Prague, Czech Republic.
Optics Express
|June 7, 2011
Summary
Localized surface plasmons (LSP) sensitivity to refractive index changes was experimentally characterized at the nanoscale. This study maps sensitivity across nanoparticle surfaces, correlating it with electric field profiles.
Area of Science:
- Nanophotonics
- Plasmonics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Localized surface plasmons (LSP) are sensitive to their surrounding dielectric environment.
- Understanding nanoscale refractive index sensitivity is crucial for biosensing and optical device development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally characterize the sensitivity of LSP to local refractive index changes at the nanometer scale.
- To develop a method for mapping LSP sensitivity across nanoparticle surfaces.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing electron beam lithography to create nanorod chain arrays.
- Employing a polymer mask aligned to nanoparticle arrays to create localized refractive index changes.
- Measuring extinction peak shifts and applying a deconvolution procedure to map sensitivity.
- Comparing experimental data with finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations.
Main Results:
- Quantified local refractive index sensitivity of LSP at the nanometer scale.
- Successfully mapped the spatial distribution of LSP sensitivity on nanoparticle surfaces.
- Demonstrated strong correlation between LSP sensitivity and the electric field profile.
Conclusions:
- The developed method provides a robust way to characterize nanoscale plasmonic sensitivity.
- LSP sensitivity is highly dependent on the electric field distribution, offering insights for sensor design.
- Experimental findings align well with theoretical FDTD simulations.
