title: Surface-plasmon-mediated single-molecule fluorescence through a thin metallic film.
abstract: We demonstrate that fluorescence of single molecules in the nanometric vicinity of a thin gold film can be effectively excited and detected through the film with an epi-illumination scanning confocal microscope. A full theoretical treatment of the fluorescence signal indicates that both excitation and emission are surface-plasmon mediated. Remarkably, the number of photons detectable from chromophores perpendicular to the interface is enhanced by the presence of the metal.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, D-55128 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: F D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Stefani
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vasilev
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bocchio
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stoyanova
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kreiter