Surface Plasmon Photonics

This thesis deals with the optical properties of
Localized surface plasmon resonances (SPR) determine
the main optical properties of Ag and Au
nanoparticles in the visible. Under certain
conditions, SPR can give rise to single molecule
sensitivity in surface-enhanced Raman scattering
(SERS). The experimental observation of dimer
structures, where two Ag particles are bridged by a
single hemoglobin molecule, probably reveal the
simplest nanoparticle system that can amplify Raman
scattering to the extent that vibrational spectra of
single molecules can be recorded. More controllable
interparticle coupling effects are observed for
nanofabricated Ag particles on Si.
The generalized Mie theory (GMT) has been used to
analyze the mechanisms of single molecule SERS,
which indicates that the electromagnetic enhancement
mechanism is the main contributor to SERS. GMT is
also used to theoretically quantify optical forces
associated with Ag nanoparticles. The results
indicate that molecules can be trapped and particle
aggregates deformed by the optical forces induced at
SPR excitation.

Autorentext

Obtained PhD at Chalmers University of Technology. Prefessor of Physics at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Klappentext

This thesis deals with the optical properties of Localized surface plasmon resonances (SPR) determine the main optical properties of Ag and Au nanoparticles in the visible. Under certain conditions, SPR can give rise to single molecule sensitivity in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The experimental observation of dimer structures, where two Ag particles are bridged by a single hemoglobin molecule, probably reveal the simplest nanoparticle system that can amplify Raman scattering to the extent that vibrational spectra of single molecules can be recorded. More controllable interparticle coupling effects are observed for nanofabricated Ag particles on Si. The generalized Mie theory (GMT) has been used to analyze the mechanisms of single molecule SERS, which indicates that the electromagnetic enhancement mechanism is the main contributor to SERS. GMT is also used to theoretically quantify optical forces associated with Ag nanoparticles. The results indicate that molecules can be trapped and particle aggregates deformed by the optical forces induced at SPR excitation.