Sub-nanometre control of the coherent interaction between a single molecule and a plasmonic nanocavity.

ABSTRACT: The coherent interaction between quantum emitters and photonic modes in cavities underlies many of the current strategies aiming at generating and controlling photonic quantum states. A plasmonic nanocavity provides a powerful solution for reducing the effective mode volumes down to nanometre scale, but spatial control at the atomic scale of the coupling with a single molecular emitter is challenging. Here we demonstrate sub-nanometre spatial control over the coherent coupling between a single molecule and a plasmonic nanocavity in close proximity by monitoring the evolution of Fano lineshapes and photonic Lamb shifts in tunnelling electron-induced luminescence spectra. The evolution of the Fano dips allows the determination of the effective interaction distance of ?1?nm, coupling strengths reaching ?15?meV and a giant self-interaction induced photonic Lamb shift of up to ?3?meV. These results open new pathways to control quantum interference and field-matter interaction at the nanoscale.

SUBMITTER: Zhang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5454454 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature