Gold nanoparticle assemblies significantly enhance optical fields and have been applied for nano-optical devices, biosensing, and chemical reactions. The optical properties of the assembly are, however, less controllable once the assemblies are fabricated on a solid substrate. An assembly prepared at the water-organic solvent interface overcomes this restriction and provides flexible photochemical reaction fields. Additionally, the physical and chemical properties of the assembly can be controlled by modification of the nanoparticle surface. In this study, we investigated the optical properties of the assembly using two-photon-induced photoluminescence and surface-enhanced Raman scattering, and demonstrated that the optical field enhancement and chemical environment near the gold nanoparticle assembly can be finely controlled by surface-modification of the gold nanoparticles.

Carbon dots (CDs) exhibit chemical stability and low toxicity, so they are promising for biomedical and imaging applications. The quantum yield of the photoluminescence is typically 10-20%, which limits practical applications. We fabricate carbon dot-gold nanoparticle photonic crystals (CD-GNP PCs) and demonstrate enhanced photoluminescence intensity from the carbon dots using the photonic and plasmonic double-resonant effects. A severalfold enhancement was obtained compared to the neat CD. The method developed in this study provides a universal scheme to enhance light-emitting materials, which is promising for the development of ultrahigh molecular sensing and bioimaging techniques.

Near-field optical microscopy visualizes spatial characteristics of elementary excitations induced in metal nanostructures. However, the microscopy is not able to reveal the absorption and scattering characteristics of the object simultaneously. In this study, we demonstrate a method for revealing the absorption and scattering characteristics of silver nanoplate by using near-field transmission and reflection spectroscopy. Near-field transmission and reflection images show characteristic spatial features attributable to the excited plasmon modes. The near-field refection image near the resonance shows a reversed contrast depending on the observed wavelength. Near-field reflection spectra show unique positive and negative resonant features. We reveal that the optical characteristics and the wavelength dependency of the optical contrast originate from the scattering and absorption properties of the plasmons, with the aid of the electromagnetic simulations.

Carbon dots are attracting much attention because of their low toxicity, biocompatibility, and photostability. In this study, we fabricate carbon dot-metal nanoparticle composites using electron-beam-induced chemical reactions to improve the photoluminescence characteristics. We investigate the spectral characteristics of the composites by linear and nonlinear optical spectroscopy. The composites show plasmon resonance depending on the material used. The linear and nonlinear photoluminescence from the composites are enhanced by plasmon excitations, and the enhancement reaches nearly several times and 20 times, respectively. We also fabricate nanowire structures containing the composites. The structures show very intense photoluminescence and unique polarization characteristics depending on the wire width. We reveal that the polarization characteristics originate from the plasmonic coupling along the short axis of the wire. The technique developed in this study is promising for the polarization control of light-emitting elements and the creation of new functional nanomaterials.

We visualize plasmon mode patterns induced in a single gold nanorod by three-dimensional scanning near-field optical microscopy. From the near-field transmission imaging, we find that 3rd and 4th order plasmon modes are resonantly excited in the nanorod. We perform electromagnetic simulations based on the discrete dipole approximation method under focused Gaussian beam illumination and demonstrate that the observed near-field spectral and spatial features are well reproduced by the simulation. We also reveal from the three-dimensional near-field microscopy that the 4th order plasmon mode confines optical fields more tightly compared with the 3rd order mode. This result indicates that the even-order plasmon modes are promising for enhancing the light-matter interactions.

Optical recording on organic thin films with a high spatial resolution is promising for high-density optical memories, optical computing, and security systems. The spatial resolution of the optical recording is limited by the diffraction of light. Electrons can be focused to a nanometer-sized spot, providing the potential for achieving better resolution. In conventional electron-beam lithography, however, optical tuning of the fabricated structures is limited mostly to metals and semiconductors rather than organic materials. In this article, we report a fabrication method of luminescent organic architectures using a focused electron beam. We optimized the fabrication conditions of the electron beam to generate chemical species showing visible photoluminescence via two-photon near-infrared excitations. We utilized this fabrication method to draw nanoscale optical architectures on a polystyrene thin film.

© 2018 American Chemical Society. We synthesized gold ultrathin nanorods (AuUNRs) by slow reductions of gold(I) in the presence of oleylamine (OA) as a surfactant. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the lengths of AuUNRs were tuned in the range of 5-20 nm while keeping the diameter constant (∼2 nm) by changing the relative concentration of OA and Au(I). It is proposed on the basis of time-resolved optical spectroscopy that AuUNRs are formed via the formation of small (<2 nm) Au spherical clusters followed by their one-dimensional attachment in OA micelles. The surfactant OA on AuUNRs was successfully replaced with glutathionate or dodecanethiolate by the ligand exchange approach. Optical extinction spectroscopy on a series of AuUNRs with different aspect ratios (ARs) revealed a single intense extinction band in the near-IR (NIR) region due to the longitudinal localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), the peak position of which is red-shifted with the AR. The NIR bands of AuUNRs with AR < 5 were blue-shifted upon the ligand exchange from OA to thiolates, in sharp contrast to the red shift observed in the conventional Au nanorods and nanospheres (diameter >10 nm). This behavior suggests that the NIR bands of thiolate-protected AuUNRs with AR < 5 are not plasmonic in nature, but are associated with a single-electron excitation between quantized states. The LSPR band was attenuated by thiolate passivation that can be explained by the direct decay of plasmons into an interfacial charge transfer state (chemical interface damping). The LSPR wavelengths of AuUNRs are remarkably longer than those of the conventional AuNRs with the same AR, demonstrating that the miniaturization of the diameter to below ∼2 nm significantly affects the optical response. The red shift of the LSPR band can be ascribed to the increase in the effective mass of electrons in AuUNRs.

We investigated the spectral and spatial characteristics of plasmons induced in chemically synthesized triangular gold nano- and microplates by aperture-type scanning near-field optical microscopy. Near-field transmission images taken at plasmon resonance wavelengths showed two-dimensional oscillating patterns inside the plates. These spatial features were well reproduced by the square moduli of calculated eigen functions confined in the two-dimensional triangular potential well. From the irreducible representations of the eigen functions, it was found that both the out-of-plane modes and in-plane modes were clearly visualized in the near-field images. We compared near-field transmission images of a triangular nanoplate to those of a truncated one with a similar dimension and revealed that the fine details of the geometrical shape of the apex on the plate strongly influence the experimentally observed eigen mode structures. We also performed near-field transmission measurements of micrometer-scale triangular plates and found that wavy patterns were observed along the edges of the plates. The wavy features can be interpreted as the superposition of eigen modes with similar eigen energy. These findings prove that near-field transmission imaging enables one to directly visualize plasmonic eigen modes confined in the particle and provide fruitful information not only for a deeper understanding of plasmons but also for the application of the design and active control of plasmonic optical fields.

We developed an aperture-type near-field reflection spectral imaging method to obtain optical properties of materials with a nanometer spatial resolution. We adopted a phase-stepping technique to extract genuine near-field signals of a sample from the observed intensity spectra dominated by the large background, in a multiplex manner. We performed near-field reflection spectral imaging of a single silver nanoplate to evaluate the developed system and also to examine near-field optical properties of the nanoplate. The near-field reflection spectrum of the nanoplate shows multiple resonant features that are not observable by conventional methods. The near-field reflection image taken at the resonance shows unique spatial features attributable to the plasmon mode resonantly excited. The developed system is applicable to transparent samples as well as opaque ones and enables spectral as well as spatial characteristics of the samples to be revealed.

We examine the far-field and near-field properties of complementary screens made of nanostructured gold thin films, a rectangular nanowire and a nanovoid, using an aperture-type scanning near-field optical microscope and electromagnetic field calculations, and discuss the applicability of Babinet's principle in the optical region. The far-field transmission spectra of the complementary screens are considerably different from each other. On the other hand, genuine near-field extinction spectra exhibit nearly complementary characteristics. The spatial features of the observed near-field images for the complementary screens show little correlation. We have found from the Fourier analysis of the simulated images that high spatial-frequency components of the electromagnetic fields show mutual spatial correlation. These results suggest that Babinet's principle is applicable to the high spatial-frequency components of electromagnetic fields for the complementary screens. (C) 2017 Optical Society of America

Interstitials to be active or inactive depend on the characteristics of nanoaggregate. In this perspective, near-field scanning optical microscopy has been utilized to probe well-defined monomer, dimer, tetramer, and small assembly of gold nanoparticles of 60 nm diameter with spatial resolution of similar to 35 nm. Confinement of localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs)-mediated near electromagnetic (EM) field distribution was observed through two-photon induced photoluminescence (TPI-PL) since TPI-PL emission is proportional to the fourth power of induced EM-field. It was revealed that the intensity of TPI-PL observed in closely connected nanoparticles was very strong with reference to those obtained in the presence of isolated nanoparticles of the same size. Among the closely connected nanoparticles, interparticle gap and interparticle axes played a vital role in TPI-PL emission enhancement, as was evident and observed directly through TPI-PL intensity distribution. Correlated local geometry and emission distribution confirmed that interstitials along the active interparticle axes exhibits confined and enhanced TPI-PL emission. The emission intensity for dimers was found higher than that of tetramer of gold nanoparticles. In case of small assembly of the same gold nanoparticles, intensity was observed to be the highest of all along with wider full width at half-maximum of 188.09 nm, more than double of those obtained at dimers and tetramer. The observations were further demonstrated as a function of EM near-field distribution, as it is well-known that TPI-PL emission is enhanced by LSPRs-assisted EM-field localization. Model systems were designed along with geometries and parameters very similar to those under investigation. Finite-difference time-domain analysis was carried out to deduce near EM field distributions at various deterministic factors such as size, interparticle gap, incident polarization, etc. A plausible explanation of enhanced and confined TPI-PL emissions in archetype interstitials of well-known plasmonic systems was highlighted.

We propose photobleaching-assisted near-field optical spectroscopy to obtain the absorption properties of nanomaterials. We used bis(3-sulfopropyl)-5,5', 6,6'-tetrachloro-11'-dioctyl-benzimidacarbocyanine (C8S3) double-wall tubular J-aggregates for demonstrating this method. We photobleached the J-aggregate by photoirradiation. We obtained the absorption spectrum of the J-aggregates by subtracting the transmission spectra observed before and after the photobleaching. The spectrum showed an intense asymmetric peak near 595 nm, which was assigned to the J-bands. These features were well reproduced by theoretical model calculations. We estimated the oscillator strength per molecule from the observed absorbance, and we found that the determined oscillator strength is comparable to that of the monomer. These results indicate that the proposed method is applicable for obtaining near-field absorption spectra of nanomaterials in a semi-quantitative manner.

Optical properties of a gold nanoparticle trimer assembly coupled with gold-coated hexagonally close-packed polystyrene microspheres were investigated by linear and nonlinear spectroscopy. The observed reflection spectrum shows multiple peaks from the visible to near-infrared spectral regions. The spectroscopic properties were also examined by a finite-difference time-domain simulation. We found that the optical response of plasmons excited in the gold nanoparticle trimers was significantly modulated by strong coupling of the plasmons and the photonic mode induced in the gold-coated polystyrene assembly. Two-photon induced photoluminescence and Raman scattering from the sample were investigated, and both signals were significantly enhanced at the gold nanoparticle assembly. The simulations reveal that the electric fields can be enhanced site-selectively, not only at the interstitial sites in the nanoparticle assembly but also at the gaps between the particle and the gold film due to plasmonic interactions, by tuning the wavelength and are responsible for the strong optical responses.

We performed dye-assisted two-photon-excitation imaging of plasmon modes in single gold nanoplates using a scanning near-field optical microscope. We observed that the fluorescence from the dye molecules was excited by the two-photon process and was enhanced several-fold on the nanoplate compared to the bare substrate. Two-photon excitation images of the single nanoplate show unique spatial features that differ from the morphology of the sample. Using electromagnetic simulations, we assigned the observed spatial features to the plasmon mode resonantly excited by the dye fluorescence. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

We investigated the surface-enhanced Raman scattering activity and spatio-temporal characteristics of plasmons excited on a rough gold film using ultrafast near-field optical microscopy. Near-field nonlinear excitation images showed a number of optically amplified spots on the sample surface. Raman scattering from molecules dispersed on the sample was enhanced at the amplified fields in a space-selective manner. Time-resolved near-field measurements revealed that the dephasing time varies depending on the excited plasmon. We evaluated the resonant mode volume from the Raman signal enhancement and the dephasing time of the plasmon, and found that the volume is on the same order as the one estimated from the topography of the sample.

The generation and dynamics of plasmon wave packets in single gold nanorods were observed at a spatiotemporal scale of 100 nm and 10 fs via time-resolved near-field optical microscopy. Following simultaneous excitation of two plasmon modes of a nanorod with an ultrashort near-field pulse, a decay and revival feature of the time-resolved signal was obtained, which reflected the reciprocating motion of the wave packet. The time-resolved near-field images were also indicative of the wave packet motion. At some period of time after the excitation, the spatial features of the two modes appeared alternately, showing motion of plasmonic wave crests along the rod. The wave packet propagation was clearly demonstrated from this observation with the aid of a simulation model. The present experimental scheme opens the door to coherent control of plasmon-induced optical fields in a nanometer spatial scale and femtosecond temporal scale.

We studied optical properties of hexagonally arranged gold nanoparticle trimer assembly using optical microscopy. We found that the scattering spectrum showed multiple resonances in the visible region. We simulated the optical properties by assuming a pair of trimers as a model structure. The simulated spectrum reproduced the resonance features observed, and were assigned to plasmon-modes excited. Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) activity of the assembly was found to be dependent on the excitation wavelength. The highest SERS enhancement was achieved with 633 nm excitation, reaching 108. The wavelength-dependency of the activity indicates that plasmonic fields are responsible for the enhancement. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

We applied time-resolved near-field optical microscopic measurements with ultrashort light pulses of similar to 16 fs duration to observe plasmon dephasing processes in single gold nanorods. The correlation widths of the time-resolved signals obtained at each position on the nanorods were broadened compared with the autocorrelation width of the pulse because of the plasmon lifetime. The correlation width maps of the rods showed spatially oscillating patterns that look similar to the plasmon mode structures observed in the static near-field optical images. The spatial variation of the correlation widths was explained as arising from the position-dependent contribution of the resonant plasmon excitation in the time-resolved signals relative to that of the nonresonant excitation. This finding indicates that the dephasing times of the resonant plasmon modes were constant regardless of the excitation position. This result is understood to be a consequence of the spatial coherence of the plasmon mode that causes the local excitation to be immediately delocalized across the rod after irradiation. A comparison between the time-resolved signals of the inner parts and the outer parts of the nanorods suggests that the nonresonant contribution to the time-resolved signals may be driven by the lower-order plasmon modes having resonances in a much longer wavelength region.

Near-field scanning optical microscopy was used to probe single nanoparticles, close-packed dimer, well-defined trimeric nanoaggregate, and separated dimer of gold nanoparticles. Surface plasmon (SP)-coupled electromagnetic (EM) field confinement at interstitials was confirmed through two-photon-induced photoluminescence (TPI-PL) imaging. A fairly well correlation between topography and metrology in nanoscale was reported with sufficient high spatial resolution. A strong excitation of SP-assisted TPI-PL was observed at gold dimer and trimeric nanoaggregate, whereas single particles and separated dimer showed negligible TPI-PL excitation. A confined distribution of TPI-PL was revealed in close-packed dimer with reference to those at isolated nanoparticles and trimer. Strong optical distribution of TPI-PL was observed at trimer, but the distribution was found broadened with reference to those at dimer. A plausible explanation of such broadened distribution was interpreted as the coalescence of surface plasmon-assisted confined optical signal of TPI-PL. Such a direct and distinguished correlation between local topography and optical field distribution with high resolution is indispensable and further addition to realize surface plasmon coupling at the interstitials. Finite different time domain analysis was carried out to elucidate the results observed herein. For a small model of three nanoobjects keeping the geometry and parameters very similar to that of the close-packed trimeric nanoaggregate under investigation, multiple confined EM fields were found at the out-of-plane polarization to the interparticle axes. With the step sizes (i.e., 50 nm), these nearby localized EM near-field-mediated optical distributions open up a possibility to coalescence and thus get broadened.

The unique optical characteristics of noble metal nanostructures have their origin principally in surface plasmon resonances. To exploit and design the unique characteristics arising from plasmons, an investigation of optical field structures adjacent to the nanostructure is of fundamental importance. As the spatial scale of the optical field structures is essentially smaller than the radiation wavelength in resonance with the plasmon, optical imaging methods that achieve spatial resolution beyond the diffraction limit of light are necessary to visualise the fields. In this article, we review the studies of direct experimental visualisation of plasmon resonances using near-field optical microscopy. We briefly describe the method of near-field optical microscopy used to study noble metal nanoparticles and show with several typical single gold nanoparticles that the spatial features of plasmon resonances, in particular the standing wave functions of the plasmons, can be directly visualised by near-field imaging. We then describe our recent efforts to visualise ultrafast dynamics in metal nanostructures following plasmonic excitation, which are based on near-field ultrafast imaging measurements. Another notable aspect of metal nanostructures that has attracted attention recently is the chirality of plasmons. Here, we describe a method and examples of near-field optical imaging and analyses of chiral plasmons excited on metal nanostructures.

Optical properties of single gold nanodiscs were studied by scanning near-field optical microscopy. Near-field transmission spectra of a single nanodisc exhibited multiple plasmon resonances in the visible to near-infrared region. Near-field transmission images observed at these resonance wavelengths show wavy spatial features depending on the wavelength of observation. To clarify physical pictures of the images, theoretical simulations based on spatial correlation between electromagnetic fundamental modes inside and outside of the disc were performed. Simulated images reproduced the observed spatial structures excited in the disc. Mode-analysis of the simulated images indicates that the spatial features observed in the transmission images originate mainly from a few fundamental plasmon modes of the disc. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America

Near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) is known to be a technique of choice to investigate nanometric materials and their properties beyond far-field diffraction limit resulting high spatial, spectral and temporal resolution. Here in this report, a state of art facility, aperture-NSOM was used to probe single nanoparticle, dimer, trimer and small nanoaggregate of gold nanoparticles. Shear force topography and two photon induced photoluminescence (TPI-PL) images captured simultaneously by the system facilitated to clarify the correlation between the local geometry and the emitted photon of TPI-PL. Small gold aggregates including trimer showed strong optical confinement of TPI-PL with reference to that of single gold nanoparticles. It was also evident that the interparticle gap does have a great influence in localized electromagnetic (EM) field mediated optical confinement of TPI-PL. Such observations were also supported by finite different time domain (FDTD) analysis keeping the simulation parameter nearly identical to that of experiment. FDTD simulation demonstrated that incident excitation parallel to the interparticle axis induces strong near-field distribution at the interstitials whereas out of plane excitation modifies such confinement depending on the nanometric geometry of the nanoaggregates. Such an observation is indispensable to understand the localized EM field-mediated optical confinement in surfaceenhanced spectroscopy. © (2014) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland.

We developed an advanced near-field optical method by combining an ultrafast near-field optical microscope with a prism-based pulse shaping system. We used this apparatus to visualize plasmonic optical fields and to measure the lifetime of plasmons excited on a rough gold film. We also studied the influence of the phase-modulation of the excitation pulse on the spatial distribution of the optical fields. We found that the spatial distribution of the optical fields can be controlled by a negatively chirped pulse. ©2013 Optical Society of America.

We developed an advanced near-field optical method by combining an ultrafast near-field optical microscope with a prism-based pulse shaping system. We used this apparatus to visualize plasmonic optical fields and to measure the lifetime of plasmons excited on a rough gold film. We also studied the influence of the phase-modulation of the excitation pulse on the spatial distribution of the optical fields. We found that the spatial distribution of the optical fields can be controlled by a negatively chirped pulse. (C) 2013 Optical Society of America

Noble metal nanostructures yield confined optical fields on a nanometer scale due to plasmon resonances, and they have potentially novel applications in spectroscopic analysis, photochemical reactions, optical devices, bioimaging, and so forth. To design nanoscale confined optical fields for use in specific applications, visualization of the fields is needed to provide essential information. We adopted near-field optical microscopy to visualize the optical fields in the present study. Examples of the direct visualization of optical fields in metal nanostructures are presented together with the analysis of the unique spectroscopic characteristics based on near-field imaging. For single nanoparticles such as gold nanorods, the plasmon standing wave functions and/or enhanced local fields near the particles were visualized depending on the particle shapes and sizes. In the assembled nanoparticles, the enhanced optical fields at the gap sites between the particles were visualized, thus elucidating the mechanism of surface-enhanced Raman scattering. The characteristic optical fields for various other metal nanostructures are also discussed. © 2013 American Chemical Society.

A top-to-bottom joined system consisting of a silver nanowire and nanospheres was fabricated by embedding silver nanospheres on a glass or silicon substrate on which 3-aminothiophenol as an analyte molecule was adsorbed, and then placing silver nanowires on the substrate to make gap sites between a nanowire and nanospheres. In the far-field Raman measurements, the sphere under the wire exhibited more than 60 times higher Raman enhancement than isolated spheres. The surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra obtained by the 647.1 nm excitation showed highly polarized feature, exhibiting ca. 4 times higher SERS intensity for the electric field parallel to the wire axis than that perpendicular to the wire axis while those by the 514.5 nm excitation showed non-polarized feature against the incident electric field direction. The polarized feature by the 647.1 nm excitation is explained in terms of optical coupling in a vertical direction to the substrate plane, between the silver nanosphere and the longitudinal surface plasmon mode of the nanowire. The longitudinal plasmon of the nanowire functions as an antenna of the incident radiation field in this type of coupled plasmon mode, to yield the confined field. Near-field two-photon excitation imaging measurements as well as numerical calculations of the localized electric field around the system support this idea and indicate that the coupling between the surface plasmon of silver nanospheres and the longitudinal mode of silver nanowires is site-selective. © 2013 the Owner Societies.

We studied optical properties of single elongated rectangular nanovoids opened on a thin gold film by scanning near-field optical microscopy. We found that the luminescence is induced via two-photon absorption of near-infrared pulses when the sample is locally photoexcited inside the void as well as on the film. The luminescence spectrum of the void shows spectral features very similar to those observed for gold nanorods and is attributable to that from gold. On the basis of the near-field two-photon excitation imaging by detecting the luminescence, we visualized the optical fields near the voids. The optical image shows a characteristic spatial feature depending on the dimension of the void. From the dose inspection of the topography and the optical images, we found that excitation probability becomes high at the metal void boundary as well as inside the void. We found an oscillating feature along the long axis of the void. The observed spatial features were qualitatively reproduced by photonic local density-of-states based on electromagnetic calculations, and we conduded that the oscillation observed inside the void is attributed to the electromagnetic modes in the void coupled with the plasmon excitations.

We visualized the enhanced optical field distributions in one-dimensional linear array structures of gold nanospheres by using scanning near-field optical microscopy. The characteristic field distribution depends on the chain length of the one-dimensional structures. The distribution of optical field is reproduced qualitatively by model calculations based upon finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. From the analysis, we have found that the characteristic distribution of the enhanced field arises from interparticle interactions, which cause propagation of the plasmon excitation in the inner part of the linear array, and trapping of it by a localized mode at the edges.

We have constructed an ultrafast near-field optical microscope system with near-field pump/probe pulses with a 17 fs duration at the probe tip. The dispersion effects arising from the optical components, especially from the optical fiber, were removed by a pulse-shaping system that consists of passive and adaptive group-velocity dispersion compensators. With this apparatus, we succeeded in measuring dephasing in a single gold nanostructure with a time constant on the order of 10 fs. (C) 2012 The Japan Society of Applied Physics

Modification of photovoltaic devices with metallic nanoparticles is expected to be one of the key methods for development of high performance devices as a future energy source. To clarify the mechanism of photocurrent changes induced by surface plasmon resonances of metal nanoparticles, we measured near-field photocurrent excitation images for a GaAs photodiode modified with gold nanospheres (diameter 100 nm) with a spatial resolution higher than 100 nm. The relationship between the photovoltaic efficiency and the plasmons of the gold nanospheres was investigated through the measurements of incident wavelength and polarization dependence of the near-field photocurrent images. Isolated nanospheres deposited on the GaAs active surface caused local photocurrent suppressions at the plasmon resonance wavelengths. In the case of assemblies (dimers and trimers) of the spheres, a remarkable decrease of photocurrent at the gap site between the spheres was observed. From the results, it turned out that the enhanced optical fields created via the plasmons on the metal nanostructures do not improve the photovoltaic efficiency and that forward scattering of photons by the gold nanoparticles is considered to be more important than the enhanced field effect at the particles for the GaAs photovoltaic device studied. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3662114]

Near-field two-photon excitation images of assemblies of many gold nanospheres show characteristic feature that enhanced optical fields are confined at the rim parts of the assemblies. In the present report we analyzed the origin of this feature based on finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) approach as well as a simple point dipole model that incorporates the interparticle interaction with the dipole-dipole potential. It has been found that the simple point dipole model is useful for qualitative discussion on the optical field distribution in the metal nanoparticle assemblies. From the analysis, we have found that the interparticle interaction, which causes the propagation of the plasmon excitation in the assemblies, seems to be essential for the localization of the enhanced field at the rim. We propose that regular close-packed assemblies do not yield efficiently enhanced optical fields in visible to near-infrared region, and rather assemblies with large fluctuation are more advantageous to get highly enhanced fields. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

We have succeeded in nanoscale polymerization of Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of cadmium 10,12-pentacosadiynoate (CdPA) by near-field two-photon excitation with femtosecond pulses. The LB films of CdPA were excited locally through an aperture of a near-field optical fiber probe by femtosecond-pulsed near-infrared radiation. The formation of polydiacetylene (PDA) films has been LB film confirmed by two-photon induced and ordinary (linear) luminescence and Raman measurements by using a scanning near-field optical microscope. The polymerization of CdPA to PDA was induced by the femtosecond-pulsed near-infrared radiation but not by continuous wave radiation. This result confirms that the polymerization was not induced by heat arising from the near-field irradiation. The number of photons involved in the polymerization reaction was estimated to be 2 from the dependence of photoluminescence intensities of PDA on the power of incident light for polymerization.

:We report an anomalous light transmission phenomenon for a nanoaperture on an opaque screen when the aperture is covered with an opaque cap. In conventional optics, light transmission must decrease when the aperture is capped. However, we found that light transmission is enhanced when the nanodisk is in close proximity to the aperture at a wavelength close to the plasmon resonance. This effect even occurs when the disk is larger than the aperture.

Linearly aligned nanovoid chain structures on Au thin films were fabricated on glass substrates. Two-photon excitation imaging techniques using an aperture-type near-field scanning optical microscope revealed localized optical field distributions due to the individual structures. Confined optical fields due to the void chains were observed at each interstitial gap between voids with excitation polarization parallel to the chain axis. Electromagnetic field simulations of dimeric voids qualitatively matched the experimental results. Under excitation polarization perpendicular to the chain axis, only weak optical fields were observed. Further detailed characteristics of localized optical fields in these systems, including those in relation to Babinet's principle in optics, were discussed. Our study may open up new possibilities in molecular sensing and photochemistry.

The optical properties of a gold nanorod were investigated by Imura et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 122, 154701 (2005)] using an apertured-type scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM). The observed transmission image showed an oscillating pattern along the long axis of the nanorod. We obtain the image using the finitedifference time-domain (FDTD) method. Our model includes a nanorod on a glass substrate, a SNOM, and current as a light source. We develop a simple method for including the Drude-Lorentz dispersion relation of Vial et al. [Phys. Rev. B 71, 085416 (2005)] for gold in the FDTD. The oscillating pattern is explained by the total current in the nanorod, tip of the SNOM, and light source.

We investigated properties of photoluminescence from single gold nanorods induced by near-field two-photon excitation, using scanning near-field optical microscopy. Photoluminescence spectrum showed two peaks around 550 and 650 nm in wavelengths regardless of the rod dimensions, whereas the intensity ratio of the two spectral components varies from rod to rod. We discussed the observed spectral features of photoluminescence based on electromagnetic calculations and found that the observed spectral features can be explained in terms of local field enhancement in the vicinity of the gold nanorod due to plasmon-mode excitation. © 2009 American Chemical Society.

In this article, studies on noble metal nanostructures using near-field optical microscopic imaging are reviewed. We show that near-field transmission imaging and near-field two-photon excitation imaging provide valuable methods for investigation of plasmon resonances in metal nanostructures. The eigenfunctions of plasmon modes in metal nanoparticles are directly visualized using these methods. For metal nanowire systems, wavevectors of the longitudinal plasmon modes can be estimated directly from the wave-function images, and the dispersion relations are plotted and analyzed. Using ultrafast transient near-field imaging, we show that the deformation of the plasmon wave function takes place after photoexcitation of a gold nanorod. Such methods of plasmon-wave imaging may provide a unique basic toot for designing plasmon-mode-based nano-optical devices. We also demonstrate that the near-field two-photon excitation probability images reflect localized electric-field enhancements in metal nanostructures. We apply this method to gold nanosphere assemblies and clearly visualize the local enhanced optical fields in the interstitial sites between particles (hot spots). We also show the contribution of hot spots to surface enhanced Raman scattering. The methodology described here may provide valuable basic information about the characteristic enhanced optical fields in metal nanostructures as well as on their applications to new innovative research areas beyond the conventional scope of materials. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cell imaging with two-photon-induced photoluminescence is demonstrated using gold nanoparticles (either triangular nanoplates or nanosphere aggregates) as imaging agents. On being conjugated to yeast cells, gold nanoplates exhibit visible two-photon excited luminescence that can be detected by two-photon laser scanning microscopy. The cells can be either dried (in the air) or alive (in water).

We report a near-field two-photon excitation imaging technique for silver nanostructures to visualize optical fields in the vicinity of nanostructures. We have found that the excitation image of an isolated wire shows an oscillating feature along the long axis of the wire. The period of the oscillation is in good agreement with that of plasmon wavefunctions resonant with the excitation light. The oscillation was thus attributed to the resonant plasmon wavefunction. We also found that bundles of wires exhibit more intense photoluminescence signals than do isolated wires, particularly at junctions between wire ends and the shafts of other wires, which was attributed to the amplified optical fields at the ends of nanowires or interstitial gaps between the wires. We discuss the mechanism of the photoluminescence from silver nanowires. The photoluminescence is most probably attributed to emission from the oxidized surface layer of the silver nanowires, which is enhanced in resonance with plasmons on the wires.

We investigated the enhancement and quenching of dye fluorescence by single gold nanoparticles using an aperture-type scanning near-field optical microscope to evaluate the shape dependence. Enhancement or reduction of fluorescence was found to be strongly dependent on the shape of the particle. Gold nanoplates showed significant fluorescence enhancement, as did aggregated nanoparticles for the most part. On the other hand, gold nanorods with high aspect ratios showed quenching effects. The results suggest that the electromagnetic near-field in the vicinity of the surface of nanoparticles, not just near the apex or the tip but the whole surface, is important for understanding fluorescence enhancement and quenching. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Spatial distribution of surface enhanced Raman activity is visualized for two-dimensional (2D) nearly close-packed and well-ordered monolayer array of gold nanoparticles by using scanning near-field optical microscope. The 2D arrays exhibit highly nonuniform enhancement in Raman scattering, i.e., the regions along the edge of the 2D array are preferentially enhanced. We demonstrate that the spatial distribution of the localized electric field is also nonuniform and agrees well with that of the Raman enhancement.

Near-field optical microscopy enables spectroscopic and imaging measurements with a spatial resolution far beyond the diffraction limit of light. We show in this review that spatial structures of plasmonic wavefunctions and those of enhanced optical fields are visualized by near-field spectroscopic imaging for gold nanoparticles and their assemblies. A simple formulation for the optical observation of wavefunctions of oscillating polarization modes in nanomaterials is given. We will introduce experimental methods for near-field linear transmission and nonlinear two-photon excitation measurements. We will demonstrate that the wavefunctions of surface plasmons resonant with the incident wavelength are visualized by the near-field methods for gold nanorods. In addition, we will also show for aggregated gold nanospheres that an enhanced optical field is localized in the interstitial gaps between the particles by near-field two-photon excitation measurements. © 2008 The Japan Society of Applied Physics.

We have developed novel methods of near-field microspectroscopy by combining near-field optical microscopy with linear and non-linear optical techniques. The developed near-field microscope achieves high spatial resolution and high time resolution, and is applied to studies of local excitations and wave functions of single noble metal nanoparticles. We demonstrate that the plasmon wave functions and the optical fields in the vicinity of nanoparticles are visualized by the near-field methods. Based on these results, we clearly show that localized electromagnetic field enhancement in the vicinity of nanoparticles is one of the most important factors in surface-enhanced spectroscopies. We also extended the methods to ultrafast optical measurements, and show space-resolved ultrafast transient response of single gold nanorods. The characteristic spatio-temporal features observed in the nanorods are revealed to be arising from the changes of the plasmon-mode wave functions upon elevation of photo-induced electronic temperature of the nanorod.

We. clarified the relationship between near-field optical properties and the local structure in monolayer assembly of gold nanoparticles by using scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The success of superposition of the SNOM image with the SEM image allows us to find that the intense electromagnetic field is localized at the rim part, especially the interstitial site of the dimerlike structure.

We have studied electromagnetic field on the surface of two-dimensional nanostructure of gold nanoparticles through two-photon-induced photoluminescence images by using scanning near-field optical microscope and far-field surface-enhanced Raman scattering measurements. The near-field two-photon-induced photoluminescence image shows that strong inhomogeneous enhancement in two-photon-induced photoluminescence occurs over the two-dimensional nanostructure, representing localized surface plasmon excitations. The results suggest that the local structure of the two-dimensional nanostructure influences the distribution of localized surface plasmon excitation.

Ultrafast transient responses in single gold nanorods are visualized in real space by femtosecond pump-probe measurements using a near-field optical microscope. The observed transient images show characteristic features, and the features are strongly dependent on the size of the rod. It is revealed that the features arise from changes in the plasmon-mode wave function upon elevation of the electronic temperature of the nanorod induced by photoexcitation. © 2008 The American Physical Society.

We studied single gold nanoparticles and aggregates by linear and non-linear optical methods combined with near-field optical microscopy. Near-field images of gold nanorods obtained show peculiar spatial patterns, and are strongly dependent on wavelength observed. The images are attributed to spatial characteristics of plasmon modes (wavefunctions), and are consistent with theoretical simulations. We also studied spatial distributions of optical fields by using near-field two-photon-induced photoluminescence and Raman imaging techniques. We revealed that optical fields are highly confined at interstitial sites in dimers of spherical gold nanospheres, and such an amplified electromagnetic field is one of the most important origins in single molecular sensitivity surface enhanced Raman scattering.

We report in this paper the near-field microscopic studies on localized plasmon resonances in gold nanoparticles and their assemblies (nanorods, triangular nanoplates, and assembled nanospheres). We have utilized near-field measurements of linear transmission/scattering, as well as nonlinear two-photon excitation, to enable spectroscopic imaging of local electric field or local density of electromagnetic states. We show that the wavefunction of the plasmon excitation in the nanoparticle is visualized by the near-field methods. For single nanorod, many plasmon resonances were observed in the near-field transmission spectrum. At each resonant peak wavelength, the near-field image of the nanorod gave a characteristic spatially oscillating feature along the long axis of the nanorod. The feature is attributable to the square modulus of the resonant plasmon-mode wavefunction. In the assembled nanoparticles, strong electric-field enhancement localized in the interstitial sites ("hot spot"), which was theoretically predicted previously, was clearly imaged by the near-field two-photon excitation method. Major contribution of the hot spots to surface enhanced Raman scattering is also shown for the samples weakly doped with Raman-active dye molecules, by the near-field excited Raman spectra and images.

We investigated near-field optical properties and images of single gold nanorods by using a near-field optical microscope. Observed transmission spectra show distinct transverse and longitudinal surface plasmon resonances. Transmission images observed near the surface plasmon resonances agree qualitatively with calculated maps of optical local density-of-states, and are assignable to plasmon wavefunctions. Ultrafast temporal responses in the single gold nanoparticles were observed by combining a near-field microscope with time-resolved techniques. Observed transient transmission images of the single nanorods show characteristic optical features, and are in good agreement with a calculated map of variation of local density of states arising from the elevation of electronic temperature in the nanorod induced by photoexcitation.

We demonstrate visualization of localized intense electromagnetic fields in real space in well-tailored dimeric and trimeric gold nanospheres by using near-field optical techniques. With two-photon induced luminescence and Raman measurements, we show that the electric field is confined at an interstitial site in the aggregate. We also demonstrate optical switching operations for the electric-field localized sites in the trimer structure.

We experimentally investigated the reciprocity of scanning near-field optical microscopy between illumination and collection modes. Near-field transmission images of single gold spheres and nanorods observed by the two modes are found to be equivalent to each other in the region from visible to near infrared. This result shows that reciprocity holds for the near-field scattering problems. We found that the conventional optical selection rule for far-field excitations does not apply not only under illumination mode but also with collection-mode arrangements. The possible origin of this observation might be the near-field probe. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America.

Scanning near- field optical microscopes enable optical measurements and observations with a spatial resolution far beyond the diffraction limit of light. This allows us to spatially resolve the positions in nanoparticles and at the same time to investigate spectroscopic characteristics point by point. In this feature article, we focus on near- field microscopic studies on surface plasmons in anisotropic gold nanoparticles and aggregates ( nanorods, triangular nanoplates, and aggregated nanospheres). We have utilized linear transmission/ scattering as well as nonlinear two- photon excitation measurements in the near field, to observe the local electric field or electromagnetic local density of states. We show that the wavefunction of the plasmon excitation in the nanoparticle resonant with the incident radiation field is visualized by the near- field methods. In the aggregated nanoparticles, strong electric- field enhancement localized in the interstitial sites, which was theoretically predicted previously, is clearly imaged, and its major contribution to surface enhanced Raman scattering is also shown by the near- field images.

We have investigated two-photon-induced photoluminescence (PL) properties of single gold nanoplates by using an apertured scanning near-field optical microscope. The nanoplates show PL much stronger than nanorods. The near-field PL images show characteristic spatial features, which depend on the incident polarization. These PL images are in good agreement with the calculated spatial distribution of the electric fields adjacent to the particles at the excitation wavelength. We attribute the observed images to spatial characteristics of plasmon modes.

We observed near-field images of aggregates of gold nanospheres, by detecting TPI-PL from gold and Raman scattering from Rhodamine 6G adsorbed oil the nanoparticles. The results were analyzed in relation to the localized Raman active site (hot Spot) of surface-enhanced Raman scattering,.

We fabricated porphyrin thin films on mica surfaces from acidic aqueous solutions of the preorganized H-aggregates of amphiphilic porphyrins by the simple spin-coating method. The morphological and spectroscopic properties of the film were investigated by scanning near-field optical microscopy. The results obtained in this study demonstrate that the preorganized structure in solution can be transferred as a thin film with a thickness of the monolayer level without losing their substantial structure and photophysical properties.

Surface plasmons of silver nanorods were investigated by using scanning near-field optical microscopy. Near-field transmission images showed spatially oscillatory patterns in nanorods. The oscillatory features of images are attributable to plasmon-mode wave-functions. From the near-field images and spectra, dispersion relations of surface plasmon modes for various silver nanorods are obtained. It is found that dispersion relation of a nanorod is dependent on its diameter. The spectral features obtained are compared with those for gold nanorods. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

We investigated the two-photon-induced photoluminescence properties of single gold nanorods by scanning near-field spectroscopy. The process was found to be initiated by a sequential one-photon absorption for creating a pair of an electron and a hole in the sp and d bands. Photoluminescence is then radiated when the electron near the Fermi surface recombines with the hole near the X and L symmetry points. The polarization characteristics of emitted photons from the X and L regions were found to be different. These characteristics can be understood by the crystalline structure and the band structure of the gold nanorod. We found characteristic spatial oscillatory features along the long axis of the nanorods in photoluminescence excitation images. The images were well reproduced by density-of-states maps of the nanorods calculated with Green's dyadic method and were attributed to the spatial characteristics of the wave functions of the plasmon modes inside the nanorods.

We have investigated optical properties of single gold nanorods by using an apertured-type scanning near-field optical microscope. Near-field transmission spectrum of single gold nanorod shows several longitudinal surface plasmon resonances. Transmission images observed at these resonance wavelengths show oscillating pattern along the long axis of the nanorod. The number of oscillation increases with decrement of observing wavelength. These spatial characteristics were well reproduced by calculated local density-of-states maps and were attributed to spatial characteristics of plasmon modes inside the nanorods. Dispersion relation for plasmons in gold nanorods was obtained by plotting the resonance frequencies of the plasmon modes versus the wave vectors obtained from the transmission images. © 2005 American Institute of Physics.

A novel apparatus for femtosecond pump-probe near-field optical microscopy is described. Probe pulses in visible to near-infrared regions are generated by focusing laser pulses in microstructure fiber. Excited-state dynamics of porphyrin J-aggregates are presented.

We investigated near-field optical properties of single gold nanorods. Transmission images observed near the surface plasmon resonances agree with calculated local density of states. Ultrafast temporal responses of single rods have been imaged by combining near-field microscope with time-resolved technique. It has been found that dynamic behavior in the center of the rod is different from that in the both ends.

We investigated near-field optical properties of single gold nanorods. Transmission images observed near the surface plasmon resonances agree with calculated local density of states. Ultrafast temporal responses of single rods have been imaged by combining near-field microscope with time-resolved technique. It has been found that dynamic behavior in the center of the rod is different from that in the both ends.

A novel apparatus for femtosecond pump-probe near-field optical microscopy is described. Probe pulses in visible to near-infrared regions are generated by focusing laser pulses in microstructure fiber. Excited-state dynamics of porphyrin J-aggregates are presented.

We investigate the interaction between evanescent wave and a single gold nanoparticle in near-field by utilizing an aperture-probe scanning near-field optical microscope. A characteristic spectral feature, consisting of transmission enhancement and absorptive parts, is found. Observed spectra are successfully simulated both by a model calculation based on extended Mie scattering theory of the near- and far-field scatterings as well as by a Green's dyadic method. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Mesoscopic properties of J-aggregates of water-soluble [tetrakis(4- sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin] and water-insoluble [tetrakis(4-methoxyphenyl) porphyrin and tetraphenylporphyrin] tetraphenylporphyrin derivatives in thin films have been investigated by scanning near-field optical microscopy. From surface topography, the sample films were found to be composed of planar J-aggregate microcrystallines. The transmittance spectra of the water-insoluble samples are site specific, while those of the water-soluble samples are not. This observation might reflect the spatial inhomogeneity of the thin films in mesoscopic scales and is related to the broad J-bands of water-insoluble samples. Excited state lifetimes, obtained from time-resolved, pump-probe measurements in small domains, were in the 30-70 ps range for 4-methoxy substituted and in the 40-100 ps range for unsubstituted tetraphenylporphyrin, which are of the same order as the reported far-field results for 4-sulfonated compound in water.

A novel apparatus for time-resolved near-field optical microscopy is described. The apparatus consists of a mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser, a microstructure fiber, and a scanning near-field optical microscope equipped with an apertured optical fiber probe. The probe pulses in visible to near-infrared regions are generated by focusing laser pulses in the microstructure fiber. The broadband continuum can be used as a wavelength-tunable light source for fluorescence excitation as well as for probing absorption of excited states at arbitrary wavelengths by applying pump-probe scheme, in high spatial-resolution (similar to100 nm) predominantly determined by the aperture size of the tip. Time resolution obtained with 740-830 nm probe pulses was in 1-2 ps range, while that with 570 nm pulses was 5 ps without precompensation of the group delay dispersion for the probe pulses. Results on the excited-state dynamics of molecular aggregates are presented. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.

We investigated the near-field optical properties of single gold nanorods. Transmission images observed near the surface plasmon resonances agree qualitatively with the calculated maps of the optical local density of states and are reflected by spatial characteristics of plasmon wave functions. Ultrafast temporal responses have been observed by combining near-field microscopy with a time-resolved technique. It has been found that the behavior of the collective motion of electrons in the center of the rod is different from that in both ends.

Mesoscopic properties of J-aggregates of watersoluble [tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin] and water-insoluble [tetrakis(4-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin and tetraphenylporphyrin] tetraphenylporphyrin derivatives in thin films have been investigated by scanning near-field optical microscopy. From surface topography, the sample films were found to be composed of planar J-aggregate microcrystallines. The transmittance spectra of the water-insoluble samples are site specific, while those of the water-soluble samples are not. This observation might reflect the spatial inhomogeneity of the thin films in mesoscopic scales and is related to the broad J-bands of water-insoluble samples. Excited state lifetimes, obtained from time-resolved, pump-probe measurements in small domains, were in the 30-70 ps range for 4-methoxy substituted and in the 40-100 ps range for unsubstituted tetraphenylporphyrin, which are of the same order as the reported far-field results for 4-sulfonated compound in water.

Mesoscopic properties of J-aggregates of watersoluble [tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin] and water-insoluble [tetrakis(4-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin and tetraphenylporphyrin] tetraphenylporphyrin derivatives in thin films have been investigated by scanning near-field optical microscopy. From surface topography, the sample films were found to be composed of planar J-aggregate microcrystallines. The transmittance spectra of the water-insoluble samples are site specific, while those of the water-soluble samples are not. This observation might reflect the spatial inhomogeneity of the thin films in mesoscopic scales and is related to the broad J-bands of water-insoluble samples. Excited state lifetimes, obtained from time-resolved, pump-probe measurements in small domains, were in the 30-70 ps range for 4-methoxy substituted and in the 40-100 ps range for unsubstituted tetraphenylporphyrin, which are of the same order as the reported far-field results for 4-sulfonated compound in water.

The transition metal-benzene (1:1) complexes are synthesized by laser evaporation method followed by the size and structure selection with 2-m long electrostatic hexapole field. Electric dipole moments of half-sandwich type binary complexes for a series of the transition metals, i.e. Ti, V, Co, and Ni, with benzene molecule were determined by measuring the focusing curves, namely the dependence of the focused beam intensity upon the hexapole field strength. It is found that the dipole moments of Ti-C6H6 and V-C6H6 are larger than the ones of Co-C6H6 and Ni-C6H6. Such large dipole moments of Ti-C6H6 and V-C6H6 can be ascribed to the strong orbital interaction due to charge transfer between the metal atom and benzene molecule. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Mesoscopic properties of water-insoluble tetrakis(4-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin J-aggregate in thin film have been investigated by time-resolved scanning near-field optical microscopy. The film was found to be composed of planar microcrystallines with lengths of a few micrometers, widths of similar to100 nm, and similar to20 nm heights. The transmittance spectra are site-specific. This observation might reflect inhomogeneity of the sample, and is related to the broad J-bands compared to those of tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin. Excited-state lifetimes, obtained from pump-probe measurements in small domains, were ranging from 10 to 50 ps that are of the same order with the far-field results. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Supersonic beam of size-selected Ti-C6H6 metal-ligand binary complex was generated by a laser evaporation method followed by the size selection with 2-m long electrostatic hexapole field. The dependence of the beam intensity upon the hexapole field strength was measured in order to determine permanent dipole moment and complex symmetry. We find that the structure of Ti-C6H6 complex has nearly C-6v symmetry and its electric dipole moment is 2.4 +/- 0.3 D. The calculation with use of density functional theory substantiated its optimized structure as C-6v symmetric in accordance with the experimental result. The calculation also suggests that charge transfer interaction between Ti Atom and C6H6 plays a central role to stabilize the complex. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Penning ionization of HCl upon collision with metastable He*(2(3)S) atoms was studied by two-dimensional (collision-energy/electron energy resolved) Penning ionization electron spectroscopy and by classical trajectory calculations. Collision energy resolved studies enable us to obtain important information about stereo dynamical aspects on this reaction; sideways approaches of the He* atoms on H-Cl molecular axis play a dominant role in the ionization event for producing HCl+(X (2)Pi(i), v' = 0, 1), and glancing collision is one of the dominant trajectories of the He* atoms to produce HCl+(A, (2)Sigma(+)). It was also found that the formation of vibrationally excited HCl+(X (2)Pi(i), v' &gt; 1) through the unidentified HCl** Rydberg state was influenced by a strong attractive interaction, whereas the formation of the HCl** Rydberg state, dissociating to H(1s) and autoionizing Cl**(D-1(2) nl) atoms, was found to be affected by a repulsive interaction around the Cl end of the HCl molecule.

Two-dimensional (collision-energy/electron-energy-resolved) Penning ionization electron spectroscopy (2D-PIES) have been applied to the reaction of 1,3,5-C6H3F3 and C6F6 with metastable He*(2(3)S) atoms. Collision energy dependence of the partial ionization cross sections (CEDPICS), which reflects interaction potential energy between the molecule and the He*(23S) atom, indicated anisotropic interaction around the molecules. Assignments of the Penning ionization electron spectra and He I ultraviolet photoelectron spectra have been made by the characteristics of the 2D-PIES. Furthermore, substituent effects on the reactivity of molecular orbitals and also on the interactions around the molecules for various fluorobenzenes were investigated. It was found that the reactivity of the molecular orbitals were closely related to the amount of F atomic orbital components in the orbital. Furthermore, an elucidation of the substituent effect on the interaction behaviors around the molecules gives us important insights on the dynamics of the colliding particles.

Ionization of dichlorobenzenes with metastable He*(2(3)S) atoms was studied by two-dimensional (collision-energy/electron-energy-resolved) Penning ionization electron spectroscopy. Collision energy dependence of the partial ionization cross sections (CEDPICS), which reflects the interaction potential energy between the molecule and He*(2(3)S), showed anisotropic interaction around the molecules. The pi and n (nonbonding) orbitals regions of the molecules showed attractive interactions. It was also found that the magnitude of lattractive interaction around the Cl atom lone pair region perpendicular to the phenyl ring was o- &gt; p- &gt; M-C6H4Cl2, Negative slopes of CEDPICS for sigma type bands indicate an attractive effect for ionization reaction by a substitution of the Cl atom.

Penning ionization of C2H5X (X = Cl, F) upon collision with metastable He*(2(3)S) atoms was studied by two-dimensional (collision-energy/electron energy resolved) Penning ionization electron spectroscopy. Partial ionization cross sections are found to be larger for ionization from orbitals having n(x) characters. Collision energy dependence of the partial cross sections, which reflects interaction potential energy between the molecule and He(2(3)S), indicates anisotropic interaction potentials around the molecule. As elucidate with the aid of calculated energy surfaces for the chemically related systems Li-C2H5X (X = Cl, F), a different trend was found in the interaction around C-X axis: for the former the attractive interaction was dominated around the perpendicular directions to the C-CI bond axis, while for the C-F bond the attractive interaction was localized around the collinear axis.

Penning ionization of difluorobenzenes upon collision with metastable He*(2(3)S) atoms was studied by two-dimensional (collision-energy/electron-energy-resolved) Penning ionization electron spectroscopy. Collision energy dependence of the partial ionization cross sections (CEDPICS), which reflects interaction potential energy between the molecule and He*(23S), showed anisotropic interaction around the molecules. Assignments of the Penning ionization electron spectra and He I ultraviolet photoelectron spectra were discussed on the basis of different behavior of CEDPICS and calculated ionization potentials by the outer valence Green's function (OVGF) method. Furthermore, the ordering of the reactivity of the n(//) and sigma (CF) orbitals and the magnitude of attractive interaction around the F atoms with the metastable atom was found to be o- &gt; m- similar to p-C5H4F2 It indicates that the wider potential well brings the larger attractive effect for Penning ionization reaction.

Penning ionization of C6H5X (X = F, Cl, Pr, I) upon collision with metastable He*(2(3)S) atoms was studied by two-dimensional (collision-energy/electron-energy-resolved Penning ionization electron spectroscopy. Partial ionization cross sections are found to be larger for ionization from orbitals having n and Jr characters. Interaction potentials between the target molecule and the He* atom were found to be highly anisotropic. Attractive interaction was dominated around the collinear access of He*(2(3)S) to C-F axis in C6H5F On the other hand, attractive interaction was localized around the out-of-plane perpendicular approach of He* atom to C-X bond (X = Cl, Pr, I). Attractive interaction for these compounds increases on going from C6H5Cl to C6H5I. Furthermore, the electronic factor due to the size of the halogen p orbitals and the conjugation between the benzene ring and the halogen atoms and also the steric factor due to the shielding effect were found to be important.

Penning ionization of Ne(3P) metastable atom with size-selected HCl dimer was studied by using an electrostatic hexapole field and chemiluminescence detection. We found that the HCl dimer can also produce HCl+(A) ions in the reaction with Ne(3P) just like its corresponding monomer reaction. The internal energy distribution of HCl+(A) in the dimer reaction is cooler than that in the monomer reaction, reflecting the third-body effect due to the other HCl in the dimer.

A supersonic cluster beam containing isomers of Al(C6H6) complexes was generated by laser evaporation, and non-destructively selected using a 2 m long electrostatic hexapole. The focusing curve shows clear evidence that there are two kinds of Al(C6H6) isomers which are slightly different from each other in geometry; one is an asymmetric 1,2-complex and the other nearly C-6v symmetric 1,4-complex. The electric dipole moments of the two isomers are found to be 1.5 +/- 0.1 and 1.4 +/- 0.1 D, respectively. We carried out computation using density functional theory in order to estimate their structures. We found that the 1,2-complex is more stable than the 1,4-complex. The present work confirms that the electrostatic hexapole technique is useful for non-destructive selection of geometrical isomers in a beam.

The supersonic beams of the (1-1) metal-ligand complexes of Al-CH3CN and Al-NH3 were produced by a laser evaporation method. Nondestructive structure selection of the complexes and the dipole moment determination were performed by using a 2-m electrostatic hexapole field. The experimentally determined permanent dipole moments are 1.2 ± 0.1 D for Al-CH3CN and 2.7 ± 0.2 D for Al-NH3. We find that the dipole moment of Al-NH3 becomes larger than that of neat NH3, while the formation of the Al-CH3CN complex produces a smaller dipole moment than that of neat CH3CN on the other hand. We performed the ab initio calculations to draw out plausible complex structures and to clarify the bonding character after formation of the complex, and we made comparisons with the computational results done by several groups. The Mulliken population analysis suggests the Al→CH3CN charge flow, but on the other hand the Natural population analysis indicates very little charge flow. For the Al-NH3 complex, the polarization effect of NH3 and the N→Al σ donation would enhance the dipole moment strength. However, there still remains a controversial disagreement between the theoretical predictions and the experimental results. Further experimental determination using the hexapole method for various metal-ligand complexes and clusters could reveal the basic nature of interaction in the complex systems in general, and this method would complement theoretical calculations.

The tunneling motion in (HCl)(2) hydrogen bonded dimer and its deuterate was probed by a 2 m long electrostatic hexapole field. The focusing curves of the dimers confirmed the existence of homo and heterodimers in the cluster beam. The homodimer, either (HCl)-Cl-35-(HCl)-Cl-35 Or (HCl)-Cl-37-(HCl)-Cl-37, undergoes a fast tunneling motion for the two hydrogen atoms in the dimer. The heterodimer, namely (HCl)-Cl-35-(HCl)-Cl-37, On the other hand, does not show such fast tunneling motion in the time scale of the experiment. The electric dipole moments for both (DCl)(2) isotopomers were determined to be 1.5 +/- 0.2 D, which is the same value for (HCl)(2). The observed ratio of homo to heterodimer was estimated to be 30 +/- 10, and this value differs largely from the natural abundance for the chlorine isotope.
An experimental scheme to discern homo and heterodimers is proposed here. By looking at fragments in the (HCl)(2) dimer photodissociation using a Doppler-selected time-of-flight (TOF) technique, internal energy distribution of the [ClHCl] fragment was measured in 121.6 nm photodissociation. The TOF spectrum consists of fast and slow velocity components for the dissociated H atoms. It is found that the slow H component that arises from the hydrogen escapes after many collisions. The fast H component that arises from the direct H escape without any collision, thus this component reflects an internal and/or electronic state of the counter part fragment, i.e. [ClHCl]. The vibrational structure of [ClHCl] was observed for the fast H component of the TOF spectrum. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

The reaction of O(D-1) with water and water clusters was re-examined. We monitored the nascent product state distributions in the reaction photo-initiated by the dissociation of N2O at 193 and 212.8 nm, and the corresponding photo-initiated intracluster reaction. The study at two different dissociation wavelengths and the use of D2O allowed us to obtain direct information on the effect of initial collision kinetic energy on the energy distribution in the product. Based on the new results obtained we conclude that the reaction of O(D-1) with water occurs through abstraction mechanism with a relatively short lived collision complex. In the case of the intracluster reaction, we have indication that more internal energy is deposited in the N-2 moiety, compared to the dissociation of an isolated N2O. In addition the results indicate that the reaction between the oxygen atom and the water in the complex involved the formation of a short lived collision complex, with a lifetime of probably only few rotations of OH. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-9606(99)01732-8].

The focusing of HCl and DCl dimers was observed using a 2-m-long electrostatic hexapole field. The results indicate the existence of two types of species. The first is the homodimers, either the (HCl)-Cl-35-(HCl)-Cl-35 or the (DCl)-Cl-35-(DCl)-Cl-35, for which the data indicate a fast tunneling motion. The second is the heterodimers, (HCl)-Cl-35-(HCl)-Cl-37 or (DCl)-Cl-35-(DCl)-Cl-37, that do not show evidence for significant tunneling motion on the time scale of the experiment. In the case of HCl dimers, even at relatively high fields, only one species could be focused, the heterodimer. The electric dipole moments for both (DCl)(2) isotopomers were determined to be 1.5+/-0.2 D, which is the same value as observed for (HCl)(2). (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-9606(98)02048-0].

An active control for changing the relative population of the 3P0 fine-state of Ar* in a supersonic beam was investigated in a glow discharge by adding a small amount of foreign gases to pure Ar gas. The Ar* mean velocity was determined to be constant at major positions of the time profile, except for a rise and the decay of the beam for all gas mixtures, and also pure Ar. The relative population of 3P0 decreased with the discharge potential for the addition of ethylene, cyclohexane, and benzene. However, the addition of N2 and CH4 and pure Ar, did not show such a 3P0 decrease. These dissimilar behaviors of the foreign mixed gases could be interpreted based on a difference in the ionization potential of the molecules. A useful application of this population control is discussed.

HCl dimers were prepared in a pulsed supersonic beam of neat HCl. The dimers were focused in an electrostatic hexapole field. Using computer simulation, the focusing curve could be fit, assuming contributions from both first and second order Stark effects. The dipole moment, based on simulation, was found to be 1.5 +/- 0.1 D. The ability to observe an effective dipole moment in a system where the donor-acceptor tunneling is fast is surprising. It may indicate that the understanding of the interaction of floppy systems with hexapole field is not complete.

The formation ratio of the two spin-orbit states, P-3(0)/P-3(2), of the metastable argon, Ar*, was investigated by the glow discharge of a pulsed Ar supersonic beam. The P-3(0)/P-3(2) ratio decreased with the increase of the glow discharge potential V-g, by which the electron bombardment initiates the discharge. The observed V-g-dependence clearly showed an inverse behavior against V-g as compared with that in the conventional electron impact by low beam densities.

Plasmon dynamics in a single gold nanorod was visualized by ultrafast time-resolved near-field optical microscopy. On excitation of multiple plasmon modes, transient near-field images exhibit prominent temporal change that reflects a characteristic behavior of coherent superposition of the excited plasmons.

Plasmon dynamics in a single gold nanorod was visualized by ultrafast time-resolved near-field optical microscopy. On excitation of multiple plasmon modes, transient near-field images exhibit prominent temporal change that reflects a characteristic behavior of coherent superposition of the excited plasmons.

Plasmonic metal nanostructures exhibit unique optical properties, and fundamental studies of them are relevant to wide range of research areas. Unique characteristics of the plasmonic nanostructures originate from the localized optical fields and are closely related to spatiotemporal properties of plasmon waves. In this chapter, visualization of plasmon wave functions and localized optical fields by scanning near-field optical microscopy is described.

Scanning near-field optical microscopy facilitates the studies on optical properties of nanomaterials beyond the diffraction limit of light. It enables us to reveal the optical properties point by point on the nanomaterials. In this article, we review our recent works on optical properties and their spatial features of localized plasmons in noble metal nanoparticles, revealed by various near-field optical techniques. We show that photonic local density-of-states or optical fields on the nanoparticles are visualized by using near-field linear and non-linear spectroscopic imaging techniques. We also show that the plasmon wavefunction resonant with the incident field is visualized by the near-field methods. Finally, we present spatio-temporal behaviors of the nanoparticles upon the photoexcitation visualized by near-field time-resolved imaging technique. We analyze the origin of the characteristic transient images and discuss energy dissipation processes of the nanoparticles.

We studied the spatial characteristics of plasmon modes in single noble metal nanoparticles (gold nanorods and others) by linear and non-linear optical methods combined with near-field optical microscopy. Near-field images of the nanoparticles obtained show peculiar spatial patterns, and are attributed to spatial characteristics of plasmon modes (wavefunctions) excited. The images are strongly dependent on observed wavelength, and from the dependence we obtained dispersion relation of the plasmon. We also studied ultrafast dynamics of single gold nanorods by near-field time-resolved technique. We found that energy dissipation processes are strongly dependent on the internal position of the nanoparticle.

Optical properties of metal nanoparticles, especially gold nanorods in this review, are investigated by static and dynamic near-field microscopy and spectroscopy. We describe instrumentation for the dynamic near-field spectroscopy which enables less than 100-fs temporal resolution at the tip of the apertured near-field probe. We show that wavefunctions of the plasmon modes resonant with the incident light are imaged by near-field transmission imaging as well as by near-field two-photon induced photoluminescence measurements. We also show the results of the ultrafast near-field imaging of gold nanorods, where the dynamics after photoexcitation strongly depends on the position on the nanorod.

金ナノ粒子２次元単層構造における局在プラズモン励起に関する近接場分光

本研究では，ナノ粒子集合体に誘起される光励起状態の空間構造の動的制御に取り組み，一般性の高い波動関数の時空間制御法を確立することを目標にする。ナノ粒子の集合体の作製法として，本年度はポリスチレン球と金ナノ粒子の自己組織化法の改良に取り組んだ。ポリスチレン球は，自己組織化により六回対称性をもつ構造を作製することができる。この構造に金薄膜を蒸着しこれをテンプレートとして，金ナノ粒子の配列構造を作製した。この集合体は，従来のガラス基板上に作製した金ナノ粒子の集合体に比べて，下地の金薄膜との相互作用が存在することからより顕著な光学特性を示すことが期待される。作製した構造体のファーフィールド，および近接場光学測定の結果からこの推測を裏付ける結果を得ている。
本年度はまた，光励起励起状態の時空間分布の可視化および制御法の高度化にも合わせて取り組んだ。これによりプラズモンの位相緩和時間の空間分布を可視化

本研究では，メタマテリアルの構成要素であるプラズモンのモード間相互作用を実空間実時間で可視化し，相互
作用がメタマテリアルの機能に及ぼす効果とその機構を解明することを目的としている。本年度は，ガラス基板上に周期ナノ構造およびランダムナノ構造体を作製し，その特性を近接場光学顕微鏡により可視化しプラズモン間のカップリング機構の詳細を解明することを目標とした。これを実現するために，金薄膜に励起される伝播型プラズモンと局在型プラズモンの相互作用を近接場光学顕微鏡の（I）イルミネーション，（C）コレクション，散乱（S）の３つのモードで測定した。透過およびに非線形光学測定の結果は，可視化される像が測定モードに依存して変化することが明らかとなった。例えば，Iモードで得られる像は，Cモードの像に比べてシャープな特徴が多く可視化されること，伝播型プラズモンと局在型プラズモンの相互作用を考慮しないと説明できない特性が

Absorption spectroscopy is useful for molecular identifications, while its sensitivity is limited by intensity fluctuation of light source and noises of a detector. In order to improve the sensitivity, miniaturization of the illumination area down to nanometer scale is promising since the absorbance is inversely proportional to the illumination area. In this study, to reduce the illumination area, local illumination of the apertured near-field probe was utilized. The near-field fiber probe was fabricated, and the operation principle for enhancing the sensitivity was examined. Absorption sensitivity was enhanced with this technique, and the improvement enables to obtain valuable spectroscopic information on nanomaterials with wide spectral range. . A single molecular sensitivity has not yet been achieved, however, by improving the fabrication of the near-field probe it will be realized in near future.

In this project, we proposed to excite plasmons by the electron injection and to visualize the plasmon wavefunctions by a scanning tunneling electron microscope. We developed the microscope based on the scanning near-field optical microscope. The microsope can achieve a spatial resolution less than a few tens nm in topography, optical, and tunnel electron images. We found that a characteristic spatial feature was visualized in the tunnel electron image for the gold thin film. Alternatively, we visualize plasmon wavefunctions excited in various nanostructures by using the scanning near-field optical microscope.

Optical fields can be confined and enhanced in a nanometric space by the use of metal nanostructures, which potentially create novel photochemical reaction fields and photoenergy conversion systems. As a basis toward achieving that, we visualized nanoscale optical field distributions in various metal nanostructures to reveal the optical characteristics, using a near-field optical microscope that enables a spatial resolution far beyond that of a conventional optical microscope. We obtained guidelines for designing nanostructures that efficiently generate and control enhanced localized optical fields.

Fundamental technologies were developed to achieve spectroscopic measurements with very high spatial resolution and time resolution at the same time. Studies were also done to obtain fundamental knowledge for exploring wave characteristics of excited states of nanomaterials and manipulating them. We succeeded in visualization of wavefunctions of photo-excited states and spatial distributions of photons for various metal nanostructures, and revealed novel optical characteristics through the analyses of the observed images. We also obtained information on dynamics via time- and space-resolved spectroscopic measurements.

本年度は,貴金属ナノ微粒子とその集合体に関する近接場分光イメージングを継続して行った。
ナノロッドやナノプレートの長波長領域におけるプラズモン共鳴を実測する目的で,近赤外域の分光測定系を完成させ,試料測定を開始したが,これに関して新たな情報を得るには至っていない。今後解析を進め,アスペクト比の大きな金属ナノ微粒子のプラズモン共鳴に関して詳細な議論が可能になるものと考えている。
球状金ナノ微粒子の凝集構造に関して,昨年度に引き続き増強電場の空間分布の近接場イメージングを行った。微粒子間空隙に増強電場が集中し,ラマン活性も同じ部位に集中していることをイメージングにより明確にし,プラズモン共鳴による表面増強ラマン散乱の機構についての実験的な根拠を与えることができた。また,微粒子を二次元的に最密充填構造で敷き詰めた試料についても増強電場のイメージングを行い,充填構造の欠陥部位で電場の増強とラマン活性が顕著になるな

本研究は、鎖状に連結した金微粒子を用いて空間選択的に注入されたエネルギーがどのような時間・空間スケールで伝播するのか、伝播に伴うエネルギーの緩和や散逸がどのような時間スケール・素過程を通して起こるのかを解明することを目的としている。
本年度前半は、まず鎖状および二次元的に連結した金微粒子がどのような光学的特徴を持つか,エネルギーがどのような時間・空間スケールで伝播するのかを、微粒子内部の位置まで分解して(空間分解能約50nm)解明することを目的として、近接場透過スペクトルと近接場二光子誘起発光測定を行った。
近接場透過スペクトル測定から、波長以下の空間スケールで起こる光子と物質の相互作用について電磁気学的に基本的な情報を得た。また,連結微粒子全体のコヒーレントな励起過程が存在することを明らかにした。さらに,連結微粒子を棒状微粒子とみなしたときに,エネルギーの伝播長が励起波長に依存することを古典電磁気学計算

Scanning near-field optical microscope enables optical measurements and observations with a spatial resolution far beyond the diffraction limit of light. This allows us to investigate spectroscopic characteristics with spatially resolving the positions point by point in nanoparticles. In this research, we have developed experimental methods and apparatuses of dynamic near-field spectroscopy, and applied them to time- and space-dynamics of excited states for plasmons in metal nanoparticles as well as molecular nanostructures.
For the studies of surface plasmon resonances in noble metal nanoparticles, we obtained notable achievements described in the following.
We utilized linear transmission/scattering as well as nonlinear two-photon excitation measurements in the near field to observe the nanoparticles, and found that the wavefunction of the plasmon excitation resonant with the incident radiation field can be optically visualized.
We succeeded in femtosecond time-resolved near-field imaging for gold nanorods, and found that the relaxation process depends on the position although the nanorod is a homogeneous crystalline material.
In the aggregated nanoparticles, strong electric-fiel

近接場光学顕微鏡は，近接場光を利用することで，回折限界を超える分光観察を可能とする顕微鏡である。これまでに，発光分光法，透過分光法，反射分光法などを組み合わせて，ナノ物質の光物性の研究に利用されてきている。一方，ナノ物質の光吸収特性を正確に評価するためには，透過分光法は利用できない。これは，ナノ物質では光散乱の寄与が大きく，純粋に光吸収を評価することができないためである。光吸収特性評価法として熱分光計測が有望である。本研究では，ナノスケールの空間分解能を実現する近接場熱分光顕微鏡開発を目的とした。金ナノ粒子をテスト試料として，熱分光計測を行い，原理的には計測が可能であることを確認した。

金属ナノ構造体に光励起される自由電子の集団振動は光電場を増強する。増強電場は，分子と強く相互作用しラマン散乱や蛍光を増強する。ナノ構造の光励起状態を効率的に利用するためには，その空間と時間特性を同時に可視化し理解する必要がある。本研究では，時間分解近接場光学顕微鏡を用いて金属ナノ構造体の光励起状態の動的空間特性の可視化を目的とした。金属ナノプレートの近接場透過像は，プレート形状とは異なる特徴的な空間特性を示す。理論計算から，観測される空間構造はプレートに励起される固有関数の二乗振幅に帰属されることを明らかにした。また，時空間計測を行い光励起状態の寿命がプレートの内部位置に依存して変化することを明らかにした。以上の結果は，金属ナノ構造体の光励起状態の利用において重要な指針となる。

本研究では，キャビティーモードの可視化を実現するために，走査型電子顕微鏡に対物レンズを組み込み，カソードルミネッセンス測光部を構築した。試料と対物レンズ間に調整機構を設け，微弱光計測を可能とした。また，検出系に光電子増倍管およびアレイ型分光システムを組み合わせ，シングルおよびマルチチャンネル測定を可能とした。測定試料として酸化亜鉛ナノ構造体を用いて測定系の最適化を行い，空間分解能100 nmを達成した。また，ノイズの軽減法について検討し，二次元フーリエ変換を用いたフィルタリングにより，キャビティーモードの可視化を可能とする高感度測定が実現されることを明らかとした。

　貴金属ナノ構造体に光励起される素励起の一種であるプラズモンは，光をナノ空間に閉じ込め光電場を増強する。半導体ナノ構造体に光励起される素励起の一種であるエキシトンは，プラズモンと比べて寿命が長く，実現性や安定性など応用上の利点が多い。プラズモンとエキシトンが強結合する状態はプラキシトン状態と呼ばれ，二つの素励起の利点を合わせ持つ新しい光励起状態として注目を浴びつつある。本研究では，貴金属ナノ構造体と半導体ナノ構造体とが融合した構造を精密に作製し，それを単一レベルで研究することを目的とした。　プラズモン媒体として金ナノロッドをエキシトン媒体として半導体ナノドットを化学合成しこれらの混合試料を作製した。試料からの蛍光および二光子発光を検出し，プラキシトン状態に起因する空間特性を近接場光学顕微鏡を用いて可視化した。可視化像には，プラズモンモードに帰属される空間構造が観測されたが，明瞭なエキシトンの影響が認められなかった。このことは，プラズモンとエキシトンが弱結合状態であることを示す。

　貴金属ナノ構造体に光励起されるプラズモンは，光電場を空間的に局在化させ増強する。増強光電場は，近接して存在する分子の蛍光やラマン散乱を著しく増強する。プラズモン増強場は，蛍光やラマン散乱を介して微粒物質の検出を可能とすることから，化学センサーへの応用が期待されている。これを実現するためには，光電場の空間分布とプラズモンの動的特性を理解する必要がある。本課題では，プラズモンの寿命と蛍光寿命の相関を明らかにすることを研究目的にした。　プラズモンの動的空間構造を可視化するためには，プラズモンの位相緩和時間に迫る時間分解能とプラズモンの空間周波数よりも高い空間分解能を実現する必要がある。研究着手当時，空間分解能50 nm，時間分解能30 fsを実現する装置を開発していたが，時間分解能をさらに改善し最高で20 fsの時間分解能を達成することに成功した。また，これを用いて凹凸金ナノ薄膜を研究対象として，ポンプ・ポローブ時間相関波形計測を行った結果，プラズモンの位相緩和時間に関する知見を得ることに成功した。また，相関時間の分布測定法も開発し，得られた分布が，周波数領域の測定で得られた位相緩和時間の分布と定性的に一致することを明らかとした。さらに，位相緩和時間の分布とラマン散乱活性の分布の比較を行い，プラズモンの位相緩和時間とラマン増強度との間に正の相関が存在することを示唆する結果が得られている。　プラズモン増強場近傍での励起分子の蛍光挙動について詳細な知見を得るために，サブナノ秒の時間分解能を実現する近接場時間相関蛍光分光装置を開発した。この装置を用いて，金ナノボイド近傍に存在する分子の蛍光ダイナミクスを測定した結果，金ナノボイド辺縁部の光増強部位において，蛍光寿命の短寿命化が観測された。この結果は，励起分子の光放出過程にプラズモンが関与していることを示唆している。一方，光増強度とプラズモンの寿命の間にも相関関係が存在すると推測される。これまでのテスト計測から，光増強度とプラズモンの位相緩和時間の関係性についての知見を得ている。しかし，その物理的な解釈には至っていない。今後さらに詳細な測定を進めることで，光増強度とプラズモン位相緩和の相関関係，さらにはプラズモンの寿命と蛍光寿命の相関が明らかにする計画である。

　ナノ構造体に励起されるプラズモンは，光電場をナノ構造体近傍に時間的空間的に閉じ込め，増強する。増強電場は，近接して存在する分子の蛍光やラマン散乱を増強することから，センサーなどへの応用が進んでいる。近年，光増強場を化学反応場として利用することが提案され，ナノ構造体の光化学反応への応用が試みられた。本研究では，光増強場を有するナノ構造体として，金属薄膜に作成した微小開口（ボイド）を利用することを提案した。　研究当初は，ナノ構造体が光化学反応場として確かに有効であるか不明な部分があったため，ナノロッドに発生する光増強場を用いて，これを確認することとした。光化学反応の評価には，ジアリールエテンの二光子誘起閉環―開環反応を利用した。また試料として，ナノロッド，ジアリールエテンの混合溶液と混合薄膜の二種類を用いた。これら二つの試料を用いた研究から，ロッドプラズモンを共鳴励起することで，光反応速度が増大することが明らかとなった。反応収量の光照射時間依存性の解析から，溶液および薄膜試料でそれぞれ反応速度が2倍，6倍増大することが明らかとなった。また，薄膜試料では光照射時間とともに反応収量の飽和が観測されたのに対し，薄膜試料では飽和現象は観測されなかった。光反応分子数の解析から，固体試料ではロッド近傍のみで反応が進行することが，また溶液試料ではロッド表面において繰り返し光化学反応が進行することが明らかとなった。　金属薄膜に作成したボイドを化学反応容器として利用することで，固体試料における反応速度の増大と溶液試料における反応場の繰り返し利用の両方の長所を利用することが可能である。ボイドは，ポリスチレン球をガラス基板上に分散後，金属膜をコートし，その後，ポリスチレン球を除去することで作成した。次に，高空間分解能での観察が可能な近接光学顕微鏡を用いてボイド近傍および内部で光増強場が発生することを確認した。また，この試料にジアリールエテンをスピンコードした試料を作成し，そのテスト計測から，ジアリールエテンに由来すると考えられるラマン散乱信号を確認した。ジアリールエテンの閉環体と開環体では，観測されるラマン散乱の波数が変化することから，試料の光反応前後のラマン計測により，化学反応量を見積もることができる。現在，ボイドの化学反応場としての有効性をラマン計測により評価することを検討している。

　貴金属微粒子ナノ構造体において光励起される自由電子の集団電子運動（局在プラズモン共鳴）は，極めて高い光電場増強場を創りだし，その近傍に存在する分子のラマン散乱を増強することから，超高感度分子検出の要素技術として注目されている。本申請では，この微粒子ナノ構造体と，金属部と誘電体部とが反転した構造であるボイド型ナノ構造体を，新たな超高感度分子検出要素，ラマン散乱増強素子として提案した。　研究計画では，当初，ポリスチレン球をテンプレートにして，金属薄膜にボイドを作製し，その分光評価，引き続いてラマン分光計測を行うことにしていたが，ガラス基板上でボリスチレン球の自己集積構造を作製するのに予想以上に時間を費やすことになった。また，研究室の試料作製や分光測定のための環境を整えるのにも非常に多くの時間を費やす必要があった。これらの理由から，研究の進展が遅れたが，最終的に上記の方法でボイドを試作し，当初の研究提案の核心である，原理検証を行うこと（ボイドにおけるプラズモン励起の確認）に成功した。また，電磁気学シミュレーションを用いて，ボイドにおけるプラズモン励起のメカニズムについて検討し，微粒子構造とボイド構造では，プラズモン励起の偏光特性が一致しないことが明らかとなった。詳細については，現在検討中あるが，プラズモン励起について一定の理解を得ることができた。これ以外にも，近接場顕微分光装置を自作し，その立ち上げ，基本動作の確認に成功した。顕微鏡の性能は，当初の計画以上であることが確認できた。　以上のように，当初の計画より遅れた部分はあるが，研究提案の原理検証に成功し，当初の研究計画の目標を達成できるところまで研究を進展させることができた。来年度の早い段階に，計測法としての定量評価を終え，本研究計画の最終目標を達成できる見込みである。