title: Single defect centers in diamond nanocrystals as quantum probes for plasmonic nanostructures.
abstract: We present two applications of a single nitrogen vacancy center in a nanodiamond as quantum probe for plasmonic nanostructures. Coupling to the nanostructures is achieved in a highly controlled manner by picking up a pre-characterized nanocrystal with an atomic force microscope and placing it at the desired position. Local launching of single excitations into a nanowire with a spatial control of few nanometers is demonstrated. Further, a two dimensional map of the electromagnetic environment of a plasmonic bowtie antenna was derived, resembling an ultimate limit of fluorescence lifetime nanoscopy.
authors.affiliation: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Physics, Newtonstrasse 15, D-12489 Berlin, Germany. andreas.schell@physik.hu-berlin.de
authors.forename: Andreas W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Schell
authors.forename: Günter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kewes
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hanke
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leitenstorfer
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bratschitsch
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aichele