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Imaging Plasmons with Sub-2 nm Spatial Resolution via Tip-Enhanced Four-Wave Mixing
Chih-Feng Wang1, Patrick Z El-Khoury1
1Physical Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, Washington 99352, United States.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
|April 2, 2021
Summary
This study demonstrates a new method for visualizing plasmonic fields with nanoscale precision using four-wave mixing. This technique offers high spatial resolution for imaging nanostructures under ambient conditions.
Area of Science:
- Plasmonics
- Nanophotonics
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Plasmonic fields are crucial for various nanoscale phenomena.
- Visualizing these fields with high resolution is challenging.
- Existing methods often require specialized conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a high-resolution imaging technique for plasmonic fields.
- To demonstrate the capability of four-wave mixing at tip-sample nanojunctions.
- To enable visualization of nanoscale dynamics under ambient conditions.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing four-wave mixing (FWM) at plasmonic tip-sample nanojunctions.
- Employing a gold-coated atomic force microscopy (AFM) probe.
- Irradiating the system with near-infrared femtosecond laser pulses.
Main Results:
- Achieved sub-2 nm spatial resolution in visualizing plasmonic fields.
- Demonstrated signal localization to the AFM probe apex.
- Observed enhanced signals near plasmonic nanoparticles (gold nanoplates, silver nanocubes).
Conclusions:
- Four-wave mixing at plasmonic tip-sample nanojunctions provides sub-2 nm spatial resolution.
- This method is effective under ambient laboratory conditions.
- The technique holds potential for visualizing chemical transformations and coherent dynamics.
