Enhancement of single-molecule fluorescence detection in subwavelength apertures

Phys Rev Lett. 2005 Sep 9;95(11):117401. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.117401. Epub 2005 Sep 6.

Abstract

We report the experimental proof of molecular count rate enhancement (up to 6.5-fold) and lifetime reduction for single fluorescent molecules diffusing in subwavelength apertures milled in aluminum films. The observed enhancement dependence with the aperture diameter agrees qualitatively with numerical electromagnetic computations of the excitation power density into the aperture volume.