Local density of states for nanoplasmonics

TL;DR

This paper derives explicit formulas for the local density of states in nanoplasmonic systems, linking it to local field intensity and energy transfer rates, and clarifies the transition between F"orster and plasmon-dominated regimes.

Contribution

It provides a unified approach to calculate the LDOS in nanoplasmonics, including Ohmic losses, and relates it to energy transfer processes between quantum emitters.

Findings

LDOS proportional to local field intensity normalized by absorbed power

Derived formulas for energy transfer between quantum emitters near plasmonic structures

Identified transition from F"orster to plasmon-dominated energy transfer regimes

Abstract

We obtain the local density of states (LDOS) for any nanoplasmonic system in the frequency range dominated by a localized surface plasmon. By including the Ohmic losses in a consistent way, we show that the plasmon LDOS is proportional to the local field intensity normalized by the absorbed power. We obtain explicit formulas for the energy transfer (ET) between quantum emitters and plasmons as well as between donors and acceptors situated near a plasmonic structure. In the latter case, we find that the plasmon-assisted ET rate is proportional to the LDOS product at the donor and acceptor positions, obtain, in a general form, the plasmon ET enhancement factor, and establish the transition onset between Forster-dominated and plasmon-dominated ET regimes.