Metamaterial enhanced fluorescence detection

Abstract

In this article I show how materials created from designer functional units much smaller than the wavelength of operation , or meta- materials, can be used to decrease the lifetime of fluorescence based emitters. This is goal accomplished in three parts. First, the funda- mental physical equations describing both fluorescent emission and the particular class of metamaterial required will be over viewed in a broad two part introduction. Next, making use of a seldom seen approach, I will present the Green’s functions formalism of spontaneous emission of a quantum emitter above a material slab. Finally, I will present devices to reduce the lifetime of quantum emitters that could provide a large resolution enhancement for fluorescence based sensors, focussing on the wavelengths of 600 and 800nm.