Near field optics
We generate, image and apply the optical near fields of tailored nanostructures.
Besides scanning near field optical microscopy [1], we develop and use various plasmon field imaging schemes, as leakage microscopy [2] or plasmon-induced polymerization [3]. The near fields in more complex geometries as organic LED multilayer stacks can be designed to launch plasmons rather than to emit light [4]. Turning loss into an advantage, we used metal nanoparticles to locally heat thermoresponsive polymer brushes and to monitor their collapse via the resonance shift of the particle plasmon [5].
[1] M. Krug et al., Nanoscale 8, 16449 (2016)
[2] A. Hohenau et al., Opt. Express 19, 25749 (2011)
[3] C. Gruber et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 106, 081101 (2015)
[4] D.M. Koller et al., Nature Photonics 2, 684 (2008)
[5] P. Winkler et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 107, 141906 (2015)
