Physica Status Solidi B, accepted (2012).
Link to paper.

Daniel Dregely, Klas Lindfors, Jens Dorfmüller, Mario Hentschel, Merle Becker, Jörg Wrachtrup, Markus Lippitz, Ralf Vogelgesang, Harald Giessen

Plasmonic nanoantennas can enhance the radiative decay rate of quantum emitters via the Purcell-effect. Similar to their radiofrequency equivalents, they can also direct the emitted light into preferential directions. In this article we first investigate plasmonic Yagi-Uda antennas that are able to confine light to and direct light from subwavelength size volumes. Hence, enhanced transition rates and directed emission are expected when near-field coupling between quantum emitters and the antennas is achieved. Second, we present suitable techniques to couple different quantum systems to plasmonic antennas. We use top-down fabrication techniques to achieve positioning of individual quantum emitters relative to plasmonic nanostructures with an accuracy better than 10nm. We assure a sufficiently small distance for an efficient near-field coupling of the transition dipole to the plasmonic nanoantenna, which is, however, large enough not to quench the transition. The hybrid system using quantum dots, molecules, or NV-centers in diamond can serve as an efficient single photon source. It is suitable for high-speed information transfer at optical frequencies on the nanoscale for future applications.

http://dx.doi.org/