title: Enhancement of single-molecule fluorescence detection in subwavelength apertures.
abstract: We report the experimental proof of molecular count rate enhancement (up to 6.5-fold) and lifetime reduction for single fluorescent molecules diffusing in subwavelength apertures milled in aluminum films. The observed enhancement dependence with the aperture diameter agrees qualitatively with numerical electromagnetic computations of the excitation power density into the aperture volume.
authors.affiliation: Institut Fresnel, Domaine Universitaire de Saint Jérôme, Université d'Aix-Marseille III, CNRS UMR 6133, 13397 Marseille Cedex 20, France. herve.rigneault@fresnel.fr
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rigneault
authors.forename: Jérémie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Capoulade
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dintinger
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wenger
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bonod
authors.forename: Evgeni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Popov
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Ebbesen
authors.forename: Pierre-François
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Lenne