Nonlocal effects: relevance for the spontaneous emission rates of quantum emitters coupled to plasmonic structures

TL;DR

This paper investigates how nonlocal effects influence the spontaneous emission rates of quantum emitters near plasmonic structures, revealing significant reductions especially near sharp edges, and proposes using quantum emitters to experimentally test these effects.

Contribution

It introduces a nonlocal hydrodynamic model to accurately predict emission rates near plasmonic structures, highlighting the importance of quantum effects in such environments.

Findings

Nonlocal effects significantly reduce emission rates compared to local models.

Sharp edges amplify the influence of nonlocal effects.

Quantum emitters can be used to experimentally observe nonlocal phenomena.

Abstract

The spontaneous emission rate of dipole emitters close to plasmonic dimers are theoretically studied within a nonlocal hydrodynamic model. A nonlocal model has to be used since quantum emitters in the immediate environment of a metallic nanoparticle probe its electronic structure. Compared to local calculations, the emission rate is significantly reduced. The influence is mostly pronounced if the emitter is located close to sharp edges. We suggest to use quantum emitters to test nonlocal effects in experimentally feasible configurations.