Single Defect Centers in Diamond Nanocrystals as Quantum Probes for Plasmonic Nanostructures

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the use of single nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond nanocrystals as precise quantum probes to study plasmonic nanostructures, enabling controlled excitation and detailed electromagnetic mapping.

Contribution

It introduces a method for positioning single quantum probes with nanometer precision and applies it to map electromagnetic environments of plasmonic structures.

Findings

Controlled coupling of NV centers to nanostructures achieved.

Single excitations launched into nanowires with nanometer accuracy.

High-resolution electromagnetic mapping of plasmonic antennas.

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.