Abstract
We perform direct local-field imaging of a plasmon-resonant gold nanoparticle pair separated by a gap of several nanometers using a scattering-type near-field optical microscope with a sharp silicon tip of atomic force microscope. The sharp tip allows the access for the nanogap and the high spatial resolution. Our results provide experimental evidence that the nanogap structure produces an optical spot with the size of a single nanometer (<10 nm). This is not only of fundamental importance in the field of nanophotonics, but also provide significant information for the development of plasmonic devices with the nanogap structures.
Highlights
Sandoghdar, “Enhancement of single-molecule fluorescence using a gold nanoparticle as an optical nanoantenna,” Phys
“Nanometric optical tweezers based on nanostructured substrates,” Nat
“Nanoparticle plasmonassisted two-photon polymerization induced by incoherent excitation source,” J
Summary
OCIS codes: (220.4241) Nanostructure fabrication; (250.5403) Plasmonics; (180.4243) Nearfield microscopy; (240.6680) Surface plasmons. “Local detection of electromagnetic energy transport below the diffraction limit in metal nanoparticle plasmon waveguides,” Nat. Mater. “Nanoscale optical field localization by resonantly focused plasmons,” Opt. Express 17(6), 4824–4832 (2009).
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