Enhancement of single-molecule fluorescence detection in subwavelength apertures.
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.
Rigneault
Hervé
H
Institut Fresnel, Domaine Universitaire de Saint Jérôme, Université d'Aix-Marseille III, CNRS UMR 6133, 13397 Marseille Cedex 20, France. herve.rigneault@fresnel.fr
Capoulade
Jérémie
J
Dintinger
José
J
Wenger
Jérôme
J
Bonod
Nicolas
N
Popov
Evgeni
E
Ebbesen
Thomas W
TW
Lenne
Pierre-François
PF