Tunneling Induced Fluorescence as a Probe of Electromagnetic Interaction at Nanometre Proximity

Published

June 1, 2003

Author(s)

G Hoffman, Javier Aizpurua, S P. Apell, R Berndt

Abstract

Fluorescence induced by the tunneling current of a scanning tunneling microscope is used to investigate the electromagnetic coupling of a metal tip and a metal sample. Sub-atomic scale modifications of the tunneling junction geometry cause spectral shifts of the fluorescence. Such shifts are observed when the tip is vertically displaced relative to a flat sample surface. Similarly, monatomic sample steps close to the tip position shift the fluorescence. These experimental results are consistent with model calculations of the electromagnetic response of an appropriate tip-sample geometry. We find that for sharp tips the electromagnetic coupling of the tip and the sample is confined to a lateral range of a few nm.

Proceedings Title

Proceedings of NATO-ARW, Organic Nanophotonics

Conference Dates

August 25-29, 2002

Conference Location

Aix en Provence, FR

Conference Title

Organic Nanophotonics

Pub Type

Conferences

Keywords

collective excitations, electrodynamics, light emission, nanocavities, scanning tunneling microscopy

Citation

Hoffman, G. , Aizpurua, J. , Apell, S. and Berndt, R. (2003), Tunneling Induced Fluorescence as a Probe of Electromagnetic Interaction at Nanometre Proximity, Proceedings of NATO-ARW, Organic Nanophotonics, Aix en Provence, FR (Accessed October 27, 2025)