Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)

Controlling the optical properties of single molecules by optical confinement in a tunable microcavity

Raphael Gutbrod, Alexey I. Chizhik, Anna M. Chizhik, Dmitry Khoptyar, Sebastian Bär, Jörg Enderlein, Alfred Johann Meixner

Published Jun 1, 2009• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

Optical microcavities are structures which confine light to a small region in the range of one wavelength. The radiation of a quantum emitter is coupled to cavity resonances which leads to an optical confinement of the broadband fluorescence. A practical design for this single-mode microcavity is formed by two silver mirrors enclosing a transparent dielectric medium with single quantum emitters. Steiner et al. have shown that the fluorescence spectra and decay lifetimes of single molecules in this Fabry-Perot type microcavity are strongly dependent on the resonator length.

DOI
10.1109/cleoe-eqec.2009.5191485

Related papers

A scanning fiber-based microcavity for controlling single molecule emission

Costanza Toninelli, Y. L. Delley, Thilo Stöferle +3 more

The interaction of light and matter in a microcavity depends crucially on the position of the emitter in the spatial field distribution of the resonator mode. In an ideal experiment one would like to place an emitter at will within the mode of the cavity to change the interaction strength in a controllable fashion. Although several efforts have aimed at the realization of such a scheme, its application remains an experimental challenge. Fabry-Perot microresonators constitute a promising route for a controlled coupling of atoms in the gas phase as well as for solid state systems and molecules. Here we present the selective coupling of fluorescent nanoparticles and single molecules to a tunable, fiber-based, scannable microcavity.

International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks•Jun 1, 2010•0 citations

Controlling molecular broadband-emission by optical confinement

Mathias Bernhard Steiner, Antonio Virgilio Failla, Achim Hartschuh +3 more

We investigate experimentally and theoretically the fluorescence emitted by molecular ensembles as well as spatially isolated, single molecules of an organic dye immobilized in a quasi-planar optical microresonator at room temperature. The optically excited dipole emitters couple simultaneously to on- and off-axis cavity resonances of the microresonator. The multi-spectral radiative contributions are strongly modified with respect to free (non-confined) space due to enhancement and inhibition of the molecular spontaneous emission (SpE) rate. By varying the mirror spacing of the microresonator on the nanometer-scale, the SpE rate of the cavity-confined molecules and, consequently, the spectral line width of the microresonator-controlled broadband fluorescence can be tuned by up to one order of magnitude. Stepwise reducing the optical confinement, we observe that the microresonator-controlled molecular fluorescence line shape converges towards the measured fluorescence line shape in free space. Our results are important for research on and application of broadband emitters in nano-optics and -photonics as well as microcavity-enhanced (single molecule) spectroscopy.

New Journal of Physics•Dec 16, 2008•21 citations

Microcavity‐Controlled Single‐Molecule Fluorescence

Mathias Bernhard Steiner, Frank E. Schleifenbaum, Clemens Stupperich +3 more

We present for the first time cavity-controlled fluorescence spectra and decay curves of single dipole emitters interacting at room temperature with the first longitudinal mode of a Fabry-Perot microcavity offering a lambda/2-spacing between its silver mirrors. The spontaneous emission rate of individual dye molecules was found to be enhanced by the Purcell effect by up to three times compared to the rate in free space, in agreement with theoretical predictions. Moreover, our new microcavity design was found to provide long-term stability and single-molecule sensitivity under ambient conditions for several months without noticeable reduction of the cavity-Q value. We consider this as a significant advance for single-photon sources operating at room temperature.

ChemPhysChem•Sep 22, 2005•60 citations

Controlling the interaction of photons and single quantum systems in an optical microresonator

Andreas M. Kern, Alexey I. Chizhik, Alfred Johann Meixner

Small optical microresonators are structures which confine light to volumes with dimensions on the order of one wavelength and provide an important means for controlling light-matter interaction in integrated optics. In this Paper, we would like to present our work on the study of the interaction of single quantum emitters or nanoparticles located in the confined optical field of a single-mode microresonator. The interaction possibilities between a general photonic system and a quantum system are discussed, with special focus on the effect of resonant microcavities. For the case of the optical microresonator used in our experiments, we present a model based on the transfer matrix method which can analytically describe the radiative enhancement of even complex resonator geometries. This allows not only the optimization of resonator geometries, but gives accurate information on the radiative processes occurring in the cavity, allowing the extraction of information normally inaccessible in optical measurements.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Apr 30, 2012•1 citation

Probing microcavity resonance spectra with intracavity emitters

C. Koks, Martin P. van Exter

We measure the fluorescence spectrum of broadband emitters in an open optical microcavity with radius of curvature $R=17.7(3)\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\textmu{}\mathrm{m}$ and finesse $F\ensuremath{\approx}1000$. This geometry enables a combined measurement of emission spectra versus cavity length, which has several benefits over measurements at fixed wavelength or fixed cavity length alone. We demonstrate the role of the optical penetration depths on the cavity modes and provide practical working equations for its analysis. Furthermore, we show the ability to measure the coupling of cavity modes within a small scan range of the cavity length. By measuring these cavity emission spectra as a function of cavity length, we thus obtain a rich and complete picture of the optical microcavity.

arXiv:2404.02563•Physical Review A•Apr 23, 2024•1 citation

Nonlinear optics with one molecule and two photons

André Pscherer, Manuel Meierhofer, Daqing Wang +5 more

We use single solid state organic molecules strongly coupled to a tunable Fabry-Perot microcavity to perform nonlinear optics experiments at the single quantum limit.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Jan 1, 2021•0 citations
Optical microcavities are structures which confine light to a small region in the range of one wavelength. The radiation of a quantum emitter is coupled to cavity resonances which leads to an optical confinement of the broadband fluorescence. A practical design for this single-mode microcavity is formed by two silver mirrors enclosing a transparent dielectric medium with single quantum emitters. Steiner et al. have shown that the fluorescence spectra and decay lifetimes of single molecules in this Fabry-Perot type microcavity are strongly dependent on the resonator length.
The interaction of light and matter in a microcavity depends crucially on the position of the emitter in the spatial field distribution of the resonator mode. In an ideal experiment one would like to place an emitter at will within the mode of the cavity to change the interaction strength in a controllable fashion. Although several efforts have aimed at the realization of such a scheme, its application remains an experimental challenge. Fabry-Perot microresonators constitute a promising route for a controlled coupling of atoms in the gas phase as well as for solid state systems and molecules. Here we present the selective coupling of fluorescent nanoparticles and single molecules to a tunable, fiber-based, scannable microcavity.
We investigate experimentally and theoretically the fluorescence emitted by molecular ensembles as well as spatially isolated, single molecules of an organic dye immobilized in a quasi-planar optical microresonator at room temperature. The optically excited dipole emitters couple simultaneously to on- and off-axis cavity resonances of the microresonator. The multi-spectral radiative contributions are strongly modified with respect to free (non-confined) space due to enhancement and inhibition of the molecular spontaneous emission (SpE) rate. By varying the mirror spacing of the microresonator on the nanometer-scale, the SpE rate of the cavity-confined molecules and, consequently, the spectral line width of the microresonator-controlled broadband fluorescence can be tuned by up to one order of magnitude. Stepwise reducing the optical confinement, we observe that the microresonator-controlled molecular fluorescence line shape converges towards the measured fluorescence line shape in free space. Our results are important for research on and application of broadband emitters in nano-optics and -photonics as well as microcavity-enhanced (single molecule) spectroscopy.
We present for the first time cavity-controlled fluorescence spectra and decay curves of single dipole emitters interacting at room temperature with the first longitudinal mode of a Fabry-Perot microcavity offering a lambda/2-spacing between its silver mirrors. The spontaneous emission rate of individual dye molecules was found to be enhanced by the Purcell effect by up to three times compared to the rate in free space, in agreement with theoretical predictions. Moreover, our new microcavity design was found to provide long-term stability and single-molecule sensitivity under ambient conditions for several months without noticeable reduction of the cavity-Q value. We consider this as a significant advance for single-photon sources operating at room temperature.
Small optical microresonators are structures which confine light to volumes with dimensions on the order of one wavelength and provide an important means for controlling light-matter interaction in integrated optics. In this Paper, we would like to present our work on the study of the interaction of single quantum emitters or nanoparticles located in the confined optical field of a single-mode microresonator. The interaction possibilities between a general photonic system and a quantum system are discussed, with special focus on the effect of resonant microcavities. For the case of the optical microresonator used in our experiments, we present a model based on the transfer matrix method which can analytically describe the radiative enhancement of even complex resonator geometries. This allows not only the optimization of resonator geometries, but gives accurate information on the radiative processes occurring in the cavity, allowing the extraction of information normally inaccessible in optical measurements.
We measure the fluorescence spectrum of broadband emitters in an open optical microcavity with radius of curvature $R=17.7(3)\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\textmu{}\mathrm{m}$ and finesse $F\ensuremath{\approx}1000$. This geometry enables a combined measurement of emission spectra versus cavity length, which has several benefits over measurements at fixed wavelength or fixed cavity length alone. We demonstrate the role of the optical penetration depths on the cavity modes and provide practical working equations for its analysis. Furthermore, we show the ability to measure the coupling of cavity modes within a small scan range of the cavity length. By measuring these cavity emission spectra as a function of cavity length, we thus obtain a rich and complete picture of the optical microcavity.