Picocavity-controlled Sub-nanometer Resolved Single Molecule Non-linear Fluorescence

TL;DR

This study develops a semi-classical theory combining quantum electrodynamics and open quantum systems to analyze single-molecule fluorescence in a plasmonic picocavity, revealing non-linear optical phenomena and coherent control possibilities.

Contribution

It introduces a novel semi-classical theoretical framework integrating electromagnetic simulations and quantum calculations to explain and predict non-linear fluorescence phenomena in picocavities.

Findings

Reproduces experimental fluorescence spectra accurately.

Reveals Rabi oscillations and Mollow triplet spectra.

Demonstrates potential for coherent molecular manipulation.

Abstract

In this article, we address fluorescence of single molecule inside a plasmonic picocavity by proposing a semi-classical theory via combining the macroscopic quantum electrodynamics theory and the open quantum system theory. To gain insights into the experimental results [Nat. Photonics, 14, 693 (2020)], we have further equipped this theory with the classical electromagnetic simulation of the pico-cavity, formed by single atom decorated silver STM tip and a silver substrate, and the time-dependent density functional theory calculation of zinc phthalocyanine molecule. Our simulations not only reproduce the fluorescence spectrum as measured in the experiment, confirming the influence of extreme field confinement afforded by the picocavity, but also reveal Rabi oscillation dynamics and Mollow triplets spectrum for moderate laser excitation. Thus, our study highlights the possibility of coherently manipulating the molecular state and exploring non-linear optical phenomena with the plasmonic picocavity.