Linear and nonlinear spectroscopy of a single metal nanoparticle

Natalia Del Fatti and Fabrice Vallée

FemtoNanoOptics Group
LASIM, Université Lyon 1 - CNRS
43 Bd du 11 Novembre, 69622 Villeurbanne - France


With the development of advanced far-field optical techniques, the response
of non-luminescent single nano-objects can now be addressed. In particular,
the absorption of a single metal nanoparticle can now be detected and
quantitatively measured using the spatial modulation spectroscopy (SMS)
technique. After recalling the principle of this technique and its
application to single nanoparticle optical characterization, we will
describe its coupling with a high sensitivity pump-probe femtosecond setup.
Results obtained on the optical nonlinear response of nanospheres and
nanorods will be discussed. Extension of these studies to the investigation
of the acoustic vibrational response of a single nano-object will also be
illustrated.

Presidenza Facoltà di Scienze Matematiche, Fisiche e Naturali
Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica "Niccolò Tartaglia"
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Via Musei, 41 - 25121 Brescia
tel. 030.2406702 - fax 030.2406742