Probing quantum nanostructures with near-field optical microscopy and (vice versa)

TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical framework demonstrating how near-field optical microscopy can probe quantum nanostructures, revealing detailed electronic transitions and wave functions, and also characterizing tip near-fields.

Contribution

It introduces a novel theory connecting near-field microscopy techniques with quantum dot analysis, enabling detailed characterization of nanostructures and tip fields.

Findings

Near-field excitation enhances light-hole transitions.

Selection-rule breaking transitions can be excited with comparable rates to allowed transitions.

Quantum dot responses can characterize tip near-fields.

Abstract

A theory is presented to show how near-field optical microscopy can be used to probe quantum nanostructures. Calculations are done for a quantum dot. Results for different tip/dot configurations and sizes show that near-field excitation can enhance light-hole transitions, excite selection-rule breaking transitions with rates comparable to allowed transitions, and map electron-hole pair wave functions. Conversely, dot response can be used to characterize tip near-fields.