Dr. A. F. Koenderink
FOM Institute AMOLF
Center for Nanophotonics
Equipment currently in use for
Resonance Nanophotonics
Sample preparation
Amsterdam Nanocenter: 150 m2 cleanroom at AMOLF for optical and e-beam lithography, plasma etching, thin film deposition,focused ion beam milling, atomic force microscopy, cathodo-luminescence equipped scanning electron microscopy facilities.
Near-field microscopy
In the Resonant Nanophotonics Group at AMOLF we use a custom built sample-scanning inverted confocal microscope with single molecule sensitivity, to which we have added a shear-force tuning fork near-field scanning head. Using picosecond time-correlated single photon counting we can make confocal as well as near-field fluorescence lifetime images. We can also perform single molecule spectral imaging, as well as higher order photon correlations (e.g., g(2) measurements). THE NSOM head can be used for imaging (collection, excitation), as well as for nanomanipulation, where we attach fluorophores or nanoparticles to tips
Supercontinuum light scattering on single scatterers
In the Resonant Nanophotonics Group at AMOLF we can map the extinction, as well as the angle-resolved scattering of single nanoscatterers. We use a custom built microscope combined with a fianium supercontinuum light source to gain access to the full range of wavelength from 450 to 2000 nm. Using piezo- and galvo-scanners we can use the setup simply as an imaging microscope in transmission, reflection, and dark field mode. Using a rotatable input arm and a prism mount we can operate in attenuated total internal reflection, and collect real space, as well as Fourier space images of single nanoscatterers. Finally, the set up also doubles as angle-resolved transmission set up.
Wave guide set up
To study dielectric waveguides that are coupled to plasmon antennas we use a waveguide set up. We couple into, and extract light out of silicon nitride waveguides fabricated in our clean room using buttcoupling to single mode fibers. We can perform spectroscopy in visible and infrared on the transmitted light. Simultaneously, we can collect the scattered light scattered out of the waveguide using a microscope that allows real space, and fourier space spectral imaging. To obtain sufficient brightness we employ a supercontinuum source.
FCS set up
Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy revolves around the measurement of diffusion constants of single fluorophores by time-correlating photon arrival times that the fluorophores generate in a confocal microscopye with a tight focus. We use a galvanic mirror scanning confocal microscope set up in conjunction with MPD single photon counting APDs and Becker and Hickls DPC230 16-channel correlator board. An Argon-Krypton laser (Spectra Physics) ensures a wide range of excitation wavelengths for multicolor plasmon enhanced FCS.
Light sources
For scattering measurements we use a Fianium supercontinuum white light source that produces 2W of light from 450 to 2000 nm in 10 MHz, ps pulses in a well-collimated Gaussian beam. We use acousto-optical filters for wavelength selection. The fianium can be pulsepicked to lower repetition rates for fluorescence excitation spectroscopy. For single molecule lifetime measurements we employ a Time-Bandwidth frequency doubled modelocked Nd:Yag laser at a repetition rate of 10 MHz. For cw measurements on fluorophores we employ a Spectra Physics Argon-Krypton laser.