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Download fileNanoscale Imaging of Light-Matter Coupling Inside Metal-Coated Cavities with a Pulsed Electron Beam
journal contribution
posted on 26.04.2018, 00:00 authored by Robert J. Moerland, I. Gerward C. Weppelman, Marijke Scotuzzi, Jacob P. HoogenboomMany
applications in (quantum) nanophotonics rely on controlling
light-matter interaction through strong, nanoscale modification of
the local density of states (LDOS). All-optical techniques probing
emission dynamics in active media are commonly used to measure the
LDOS and benchmark experimental performance against theoretical predictions.
However, metal coatings needed to obtain strong LDOS modifications
in, for instance, nanocavities, are incompatible with all-optical
characterization. So far, no reliable method exists to validate theoretical
predictions. Here, we use subnanosecond pulses of focused electrons
to penetrate the metal and excite a buried active medium at precisely
defined locations inside subwavelength resonant nanocavities. We reveal
the spatial layout of the spontaneous-emission decay dynamics inside
the cavities with deep-subwavelength detail, directly mapping the
LDOS. We show that emission enhancement converts to inhibition despite
an increased number of modes, emphasizing the critical role of optimal
emitter location. Our approach yields fundamental insight in dynamics
at deep-subwavelength scales for a wide range of nano-optical systems.
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deep-subwavelength scalesuse subnanosecond pulsespredictionemitter locationnano-optical systemsdeep-subwavelength detailLDOS modificationsMetal-Coated Cavitiesspontaneous-emission decay dynamicsapproach yieldsall-optical characterizationmetal coatingslight-matter interactionAll-optical techniquesPulsed Electron Beamnanocavitieemission enhancement convertsemission dynamicsnanoscale modificationNanoscale Imaging