Morphology-Driven optimization of Double Nanohole-based Plasmonic Optical Tweezers

TL;DR

This paper presents a systematic optimization of Double Nanohole structures to enhance plasmonic optical tweezers, significantly improving electric field enhancement and trapping signals for single-molecule manipulation.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive morphological optimization framework for DNH-based optical tweezers, leading to substantial performance improvements over existing designs.

Findings

Nearly 3-fold increase in electric field enhancement.

5-fold improvement in trapping transmission signal.

Optimized structures reduce laser power requirements.

Abstract

Plasmonic optical tweezers based on Double Nanohole (DNH) structures are an emerging tool for label-free single-molecule manipulation. However, their current performance is hindered by low signal-to-noise ratios for small proteins, fabrication variability, and thermal damage risks from high laser power requirements. To address these limitations, we present a comprehensive optimization of DNH parameters using systematic simulations and morphological characterization. We evaluate critical structural features, including gap size, gap length, gap curvature, wedged tapers, adhesion layers, and the inclusion of interior pillars. By tailoring these variables, we aim to maximize trapping stiffness, local electric field confinement, and transmission variation upon trapping ({\Delta}TT), while minimizing the required optical power. The resulting optimized DNH design substantially outperforms reference structures, delivering an almost 3-fold increase in electric field enhancement and a 5-fold improvement in the trapping transmission signal. These refinements provide a robust framework for developing highly efficient, reproducible optical tweezers for advanced single-molecule biophysics.