Investigations of ultrafast processes occurring on the nanoscale require a combination of femtosecond pulses and nanometer spatial resolution.However,controlling femtosecond pulses with nanometer accuracy is very chal...Investigations of ultrafast processes occurring on the nanoscale require a combination of femtosecond pulses and nanometer spatial resolution.However,controlling femtosecond pulses with nanometer accuracy is very challenging,as the limitations imposed both by dispersive optics on the time duration of a pulse and by the spatial diffraction limit on the focusing of light must be overcome simultaneously.In this paper,we provide a universal method that allows full femtosecond pulse control in subdiffraction-limited areas.We achieve this aim by exploiting the intrinsic coherence of the second harmonic emission from a single nonlinear nanoparticle of deep subwavelength dimensions.The method is proven to be highly sensitive,easy to use,quick,robust and versatile.This approach allows measurements of minimal phase distortions and the delivery of tunable higher harmonic light in a nanometric volume.Moreover,the method is shown to be compatible with a wide range of particle sizes,shapes and materials,allowing easy optimization for any given sample.This method will facilitate the investigation of light–matter interactions on the femtosecond–nanometer level in various areas of scientific study.展开更多
基金This research was funded by the MICINN(programs Consolider Ingenio-2010:CSD2007-046-NanoLight.es,Plan Nacional FIS2009-0123:Optical NanoAntennas)the European Union(ERC Advanced Grant 247330-NanoAntennas)+2 种基金LP acknowledges financial support from the Marie-Curie International Fellowship COFUND and ICFOnest programFP received support from the European Commission through the Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate Programme Europhotonics(Grant No.159224-1-2009-1-FR-ERA MUNDUS-EMJD)DB acknowledges support from a Rubicon Grant of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research.
文摘Investigations of ultrafast processes occurring on the nanoscale require a combination of femtosecond pulses and nanometer spatial resolution.However,controlling femtosecond pulses with nanometer accuracy is very challenging,as the limitations imposed both by dispersive optics on the time duration of a pulse and by the spatial diffraction limit on the focusing of light must be overcome simultaneously.In this paper,we provide a universal method that allows full femtosecond pulse control in subdiffraction-limited areas.We achieve this aim by exploiting the intrinsic coherence of the second harmonic emission from a single nonlinear nanoparticle of deep subwavelength dimensions.The method is proven to be highly sensitive,easy to use,quick,robust and versatile.This approach allows measurements of minimal phase distortions and the delivery of tunable higher harmonic light in a nanometric volume.Moreover,the method is shown to be compatible with a wide range of particle sizes,shapes and materials,allowing easy optimization for any given sample.This method will facilitate the investigation of light–matter interactions on the femtosecond–nanometer level in various areas of scientific study.
