Topic coordinator: Davy Gérard

Summary

In this research topic, we aim at using the intense and confined electromagnetic fields around optical nanoantennas to control light-matter interactions at the nanoscale. For instance, nanoantennas can be used to enhance the fluorescence emission from quantum emitters, to detect nearby molecules, or to trigger photochemical reactions. We hence work on the design and fabrication of nanoantennas (either plasmonic or dielectric), on functionalization techniques to graft molecules on nanostructures, and on experimental techniques to characterize the optical response of the resulting hybrid systems. It includes extinction or scattering measurements of ensembles of nano-objects, as well as single nanoparticles, and photoluminescence measurements by means of single photon counting system and lifetime resolved imaging. The development of specific techniques, like Fourier plane imaging, near-field optical imaging, and photochemical imaging allows a deeper understanding of nano-antenna optical properties.

Research highlights by keywords

Single nano-object spectroscopy

Accordion content

Nano-photochemistry and energy transfer

Accordion content

Plasmonics

Pictured are experimental images of electromagnetic resonances in an optical antenna based on a fractal-like design, the Cayley tree. The bottom image shows the topography of the structure as seen in scanning transmission electron microscopy. This simple iterative design, combined with the use of aluminum as the antenna material, yields a broadband operating range for the antenna, spanning energies from thermal radiation up to ultraviolet. The spatial distribution of the electromagnetic resonances inside the antenna is directly imaged using electron-energy spectroscopy (EELS), a powerful technique yielding nanoscale resolution. EELS maps of four different resonances are pictured, with increasing energies from top to bottom. Each image maps a 900 nm times 900 nm area.

Aluminum Cayley trees as scalable, broadband, multiresonant optical antennas, T. Simon, X. Li, J. Martin, D. Khlopin, O. Stéfan, M. Kociak, D. Gérard, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 119, e2116833119 (2022)

Optical forces

Accordion content

Current research projects and related applications

Non-exhaustive list in alphabetic order
Date of update 15 mars 2024