title: Ultra-sensitive fluorescence spectroscopy of isolated surface-adsorbed molecules using an optical nanofiber.
abstract: The strong radial confinement and the pronounced evanescent field of the guided light in optical nanofibers yield favorable conditions for ultra-sensitive surface spectroscopy of molecules deposited on the fiber. Using the guided mode of the nanofiber for both excitation and fluorescence collection, we present spectroscopic measurements on 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride molecules (PTCDA) at ambient conditions. Surface coverages as small as 1 per thousand of a compact monolayer still give rise to fluorescence spectra with a good signal to noise ratio. Moreover, we analyze and quantify the self-absorption effects due to reabsorption of the emitted fluorescence light by circumjacent surface-adsorbed molecules distributed along the fiber waist.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stiebeiner
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rehband
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garcia-Fernandez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rauschenbeutel
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000812:Anhydrides / Q000737:chemistry*; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D005453:Fluorescence; D007834:Lasers; D049449:Luminescence; D055100:Optical Fibers; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D010569:Perylene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: C521594:3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride; D000812:Anhydrides; D010569:Perylene