Single-Photon Imaging and Efficient Coupling to Single Plasmons

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates efficient coupling of single photons to individual nanoparticles, enabling advanced nano-spectroscopy and microscopy techniques with high efficiency and potential for controlled single-plasmon and electron generation.

Contribution

It introduces a method for strong coupling of single photons to single nanoparticles with over 55% efficiency at both cryogenic and ambient conditions.

Findings

Achieved >55% efficiency in photon-to-plasmon conversion.

Demonstrated imaging in transmission and reflection modes.

Enabled potential for sub-shot noise nano-imaging and controlled single-plasmon generation.

Abstract

We demonstrate strong coupling of single photons emitted by individual molecules at cryogenic and ambient conditions to individual nanoparticles. We provide images obtained both in transmission and reflection, where an efficiency greater than 55% was achieved in converting incident narrow-band photons to plasmon-polaritons (plasmons) of a silver nanoparticle. Our work paves the way to spectroscopy and microscopy of nano-objects with sub-shot noise beams of light and to triggered generation of single plasmons and electrons in a well-controlled manner.