Ultra-sensitive fluorescence spectroscopy of isolated surface-adsorbed molecules using an optical nanofiber

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,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Optics express 2009-11, Vol.17 (24), p.21704-21711
Main Authors: Stiebeiner, A, Rehband, O, Garcia-Fernandez, R, Rauschenbeutel, A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adsorption
Anhydrides - chemistry
Fiber Optic Technology
Fluorescence
Lasers
Luminescence
Optical Fibers
Optics and Photonics
Perylene - analogs & derivatives
Perylene - chemistry
Spectrometry, Fluorescence - instrumentation
Spectrometry, Fluorescence - methods
Surface Properties
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Summary: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.
ISSN:1094-4087
1094-4087
DOI:10.1364/OE.17.021704