Plasmonics for high quality light sources

Already 15 years ago it was envisioned that plasmon antennas can control how fast fluorophores emit light, into which spatial mode they do so, and with what polarization.  Turning this promise into quantitative net benefits... [ view full abstract ]

Already 15 years ago it was envisioned that plasmon antennas can control how fast fluorophores emit light, into which spatial mode they do so, and with what polarization.  Turning this promise into quantitative net benefits for light sources, however, has been a difficult road, requiring breakthroughts in plasmonic resonator design, as well as in nanoscopy for characterization of single nano-objects.  I will present two strands of work from  our group. The first strand deals with nanoscopy: I will review our efforts to realize  quantitative mapping of the radiation patterns of single nanosources in terms of amplitude, polarization and phase that gives unprecedented insight into plasmonics and metamaterials, in terms of multipole moments, building-block coupling and spin-orbit coupling effects. The second strand deals with experiments aiming to achieve plasmonic mode volumes at microcavity Qs in hybrid plasmonic-photonic resonators.  I will demonstrate how plasmon antennas coupled to cavities without detrimental loss of Q, giving tangible emission enhancement  advantages in experiments with quantum dot emitters.