Nanoscopic charge fluctuations in a gallium phosphide waveguide measured by single molecules

TL;DR

This study demonstrates the coupling of single organic molecules to a gallium phosphide waveguide and reveals light-induced charge fluctuations affecting molecular resonances, supported by a simple activation model.

Contribution

It provides the first measurement of nanoscopic charge fluctuations in a GaP waveguide using single-molecule spectroscopy.

Findings

Single molecules couple efficiently to GaP nanoguide.

Light induces Stark shift fluctuations in molecules.

Charge activation model explains observed fluctuations.

Abstract

We present efficient coupling of single organic molecules to a gallium phosphide subwavelength waveguide (nanoguide). By examining and correlating the temporal dynamics of various single-molecule resonances at different locations along the nanoguide, we reveal light-induced fluctuations of their Stark shifts. Our observations are consistent with the predictions of a simple model based on the optical activation of a small number of charges in the GaP nanostructure.