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Resolving the electromagnetic mechanism of surface-enhanced light scattering at single hot spots

Author

Listed:
  • P. Alonso-González

    (CIC nanoGUNE Consolider)

  • P. Albella

    (CIC nanoGUNE Consolider
    Centro de Fisica de Materiales (CSIC-UPV/EHU) and Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC))

  • M. Schnell

    (CIC nanoGUNE Consolider)

  • J. Chen

    (CIC nanoGUNE Consolider
    Centro de Fisica de Materiales (CSIC-UPV/EHU) and Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC))

  • F. Huth

    (CIC nanoGUNE Consolider
    Neaspec GmbH)

  • A. García-Etxarri

    (Centro de Fisica de Materiales (CSIC-UPV/EHU) and Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC)
    Stanford University
    IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science)

  • F. Casanova

    (CIC nanoGUNE Consolider
    IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science)

  • F. Golmar

    (CIC nanoGUNE Consolider
    I.N.T.I.-CONICET, Av. Gral. Paz 5445, Ed. 42, B1650JKA, San Martín, Bs As, Argentina.)

  • L. Arzubiaga

    (CIC nanoGUNE Consolider)

  • L.E. Hueso

    (CIC nanoGUNE Consolider
    IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science)

  • J. Aizpurua

    (Centro de Fisica de Materiales (CSIC-UPV/EHU) and Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC))

  • R. Hillenbrand

    (CIC nanoGUNE Consolider
    IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science)

Abstract

Light scattering at nanoparticles and molecules can be dramatically enhanced in the 'hot spots' of optical antennas, where the incident light is highly concentrated. Although this effect is widely applied in surface-enhanced optical sensing, spectroscopy and microscopy, the underlying electromagnetic mechanism of the signal enhancement is challenging to trace experimentally. Here we study elastically scattered light from an individual object located in the well-defined hot spot of single antennas, as a new approach to resolve the role of the antenna in the scattering process. We provide experimental evidence that the intensity elastically scattered off the object scales with the fourth power of the local field enhancement provided by the antenna, and that the underlying electromagnetic mechanism is identical to the one commonly accepted in surface-enhanced Raman scattering. We also measure the phase shift of the scattered light, which provides a novel and unambiguous fingerprint of surface-enhanced light scattering.

Suggested Citation

  • P. Alonso-González & P. Albella & M. Schnell & J. Chen & F. Huth & A. García-Etxarri & F. Casanova & F. Golmar & L. Arzubiaga & L.E. Hueso & J. Aizpurua & R. Hillenbrand, 2012. "Resolving the electromagnetic mechanism of surface-enhanced light scattering at single hot spots," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 3(1), pages 1-7, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:3:y:2012:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms1674
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1674
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