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Quantifying the ultimate limit of plasmonic near-field enhancement

Author

Listed:
  • Zhengyi Lu

    (Wuhan University)

  • Jiamin Ji

    (Wuhan University)

  • Haiming Ye

    (Wuhan University)

  • Hao Zhang

    (Wuhan University)

  • Shunping Zhang

    (Wuhan University
    Wuhan Institute of Quantum Technology)

  • Hongxing Xu

    (Wuhan University
    Wuhan Institute of Quantum Technology
    Wuhan University
    Henan Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Quantitatively probing the ultimate limit of near-field enhancement around plasmonic nanostructures remains elusive, despite more than five decades since the discovery of surface-enhanced Raman scattering. Theoretical calculations have predicted an ultimate near-field enhancement exceeding 1000 using the best plasmonic material silver, but experimental estimations disperse by orders of magnitude. Here, we design a high-quality silver plasmonic nanocavity with atomic precision and precisely quantify the upper limit of near-field enhancement in ~1 nm junctions. A hot-spot averaged Raman enhancement of 4.27 × 1010 is recorded with a small fluctuation, corresponding to an averaged electric field enhancement larger than 1000 times. This result quantitatively delineates the ultimate limit of plasmonic field enhancement around plasmonic nanostructures, establishing a foundation for diverse plasmon-enhanced processes and strong light-matter interactions at the atomic scale.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhengyi Lu & Jiamin Ji & Haiming Ye & Hao Zhang & Shunping Zhang & Hongxing Xu, 2024. "Quantifying the ultimate limit of plasmonic near-field enhancement," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-53210-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53210-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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