Bridging the gap in scale between the THz wavelength and the biomolecule sample sizes to be sensed is a challenging
task. We tackle this mismatch by developing sensing platforms based on the concepts of designer surface plasmon
polaritons and localized plasmons. We show that corrugated metallic surfaces, complementary split ring resonators and
arrays of micro-dipoles provides enhanced THz-matter interaction times and strong interrogating evanescent fields. We
will also demonstrate how transformation optics can be used to design broadband plasmonic semiconductor and metallic
gap micro-antennas for terahertz-to-visible applications.
Microspheres made of high refractive index melamine resin are shown to enhance the fluorescence from single
molecules in solution by seven-fold, and simultaneously reduce the observation volume by thirteen-fold, as compared
to state-of-the-art confocal microscopy. This fluorescence enhancement is demonstrated to dramatically
increase the signal-to-noise ratio in fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and reduce the experiment integration
time by fifty-fold. We also provide the first description of dual-color fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy
(FCCS) enhanced by a dielectric microsphere, and report comparable enhancement factors as for the single color
case.
KEYWORDS: Luminescence, Molecules, Quantum efficiency, Gold, Aluminum, Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, Signal detection, Metals, Fluorescence spectroscopy, Signal to noise ratio
Nanoapertures milled in opaque metallic films offer a simple and robust photonic tool to significantly enhance
the fluorescence of single molecules. We provide a detailed physical characterization of this phenomenon
for apertures milled in gold and aluminum, and discuss its application to biophotonics. For the first time,
the most general figures are provided to predict the awaited enhancement factors for almost every kind of
fluorescent molecule. This knowledge is essential to discuss the ability to detect low-quantum yield species.
We also report the first demonstration of single metal nanoapertures to perform DNA hybridization sensing,
and measure similar enhancement factors as for experiments on diffusing molecules.
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