New Scanning nearfield Microscopy method bAsed on Radio-frequency Trap and LANthanide nanoprobe for LIGHT matter interaction.

Resume:

Measuring and controlling light-matter interactions at the nanoscale is critical for many applications affecting both science and society, ranging from disease detection and treatment to quantum-based information science. Performing studies of these interactions requires a nano source of light, high resolution detection and accurate three dimensional manipulation. However, most of the existing nano-optical techniques offer a subset, but not all, of these elements. The recent progress in nanomanipulation with optical nano-tweezers and highly stable luminescent lanthanide nano-emitters, now enable the development of new optical systems capable of fully controlling and measuring the nano-light and its interaction with samples. We propose in this project to first develop a new type of optical near field probe based on the optical manipulation of single lanthanide-based nanoparticles. We then plan to employ this new tip for investigating nanolight-matter interactions on technologically-important nanostructures such as optical antennas and nanophotonic circuits. Specifically, lanthanides are sensitive to both optical electric and magnetic field so that full understanding of the optical near-field properties is achievable, in an unprecedented way. This new and original nanoprobe will open the ways to a large variety of applications such as high resolution imaging of nanophotonics components (nano-optical circuiterie, spin domain, ...) or biological samples but also e.g cancer diagnostic and therapy since lanthanide can be used for tumor cell detection and photodynamic therapy.