Quantum emitter coupled to plasmonic nanotriangle: Spatially dependent emission and thermal mapping

TL;DR

This study explores how the orientation and position of a quantum emitter affect its emission and energy transfer when coupled to a plasmonic gold nanotriangle, with implications for designing optical antennas.

Contribution

It provides a detailed theoretical analysis of the spatial and orientational dependence of emission and decay rates in quantum emitter-plasmonic nanostructures.

Findings

Maximum decay rates for out-of-plane emitter orientation.

Radiation extraction efficiency of 0.678 for certain configurations.

Pronounced spatial dependence of radiative decay rate.

Abstract

Herein we report on our studies of radiative and non-radiative interaction between an individual quantum emitter and an anisotropic plasmonic nanostructure: a gold nanotriangle. Our theoretical and three-dimensional electromagnetic simulation studies highlight an interesting connection between: dipole-orientation of the quantum emitter, anisotropy of the plasmonic nanostructure and, radiative and non-radiative energy transfer processes between the emitter and the plasmonic geometry. For the out of plane orientation of quantum emitter, the total decay rate and non-radiative decay rate was found to be maximum, showing radiation extraction efficiency of 0.678. Also the radiative decay rate was greater for the same orientation, and showed a pronounced spatial dependence with respect to the nanotriangle. Our study has direct implication on two aspects: designing nanoparticle optical antennas to control emission from individual atoms and molecules and geometrical control of quenching of emission into plasmonic decay channels.