Researchers at NIST’s Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology have developed an efficient optical fiber technique for probing individual light emitters. The method uses fiber taper waveguides, which are single-mode optical fibers with a wavelength-scale minimum diameter, to create an optical waveguide in the low refractive index gap between the fiber and a dielectric membrane.
The technique enhances light emission rates by a factor of 20 and improves collection efficiencies to over 20%, significantly improving signal-to-noise ratios compared to standard lens-based methods. The strong interaction between gap modes and emitters also allows for high-resolution spectroscopic measurements, potentially leading to a better understanding of emitter-environment interactions.
The technique is applicable at both visible and infrared wavelengths and requires minimal sample preparation. This research was published in Optics Express in 2010.
Keywords: Emission, Fiber, Spectroscopy, Waveguide, Modes
