Photothermal single-particle microscopy: detection of a nanolens

Markus Selmke; Marco Braun; Frank Cichos

doi:10.1021/nn300181h

Photothermal single-particle microscopy: detection of a nanolens

ACS Nano. 2012 Mar 27;6(3):2741-9. doi: 10.1021/nn300181h. Epub 2012 Feb 28.

Authors

Markus Selmke¹, Marco Braun, Frank Cichos

Affiliation

¹ Molecular Nanophotonics Group, Institute of Experimental Physics I, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.

PMID: 22352758
DOI: 10.1021/nn300181h

Abstract

Combining quantitative photothermal microscopy and light scattering microscopy as well as accurate MIE scattering calculations on single gold nanoparticles, we reveal that the mechanism of photothermal single-molecule/particle detection is quantitatively explained by a nanolensing effect. The lensing action is the result of the long-range character of the refractive index profile. It splits the focal detection volume into two regions. Our results lay the foundation for future developments and quantitative applications of single-molecule absorption microscopy.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Absorption
Lenses*
Microscopy / instrumentation*
Nanotechnology / instrumentation*
Temperature*