Raman imaging and sensing apparatus employing nanoantennas
AssigneePurdue Research Foundation
InventorsVladimir P. Drachev, Vladimir M. Shalaev, Andrey K. Sarychev
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Abstract
A Raman imaging and sensing apparatus is described. The apparatus employs a nanoantenna structure which includes a metal tip spaced from a metal surface or particle. A light beam impinges upon the nanoantenna and causes plasmon resonance. The plasmon resonance excites a sample resulting in dramatically enhanced Raman scattering of the sample. The Raman scatter is collected by a spectrophotometer which provides an output signal indicative of the composition of the sample.
Claims16
Apparatus for exciting Raman scatter in a sample comprising:
- a nanoantenna formed by a metallic tip spaced from a metal;
- and
- a light source for projecting a light beam onto the nanoantenna to cause plasmon resonance which excites the sample coupled to the plasmon resonance to generate a characteristic enhanced Raman signal.
Apparatus for analyzing a sample comprising:
- a nanoantenna formed by a metal tip spaced from a metal surface or particle;
- a light source for projecting a light beam onto said nanoantenna to cause plasmon resonance to excite the sample and generate Raman scatter;
- a Raman spectrophotometer for collecting the Raman scatter and for providing an output characteristic of the sample.
Apparatus for analyzing samples carried at spaced locations on a substrate comprising:
- a nanoantenna formed by a probe with a metallic tip spaced from metal on the substrate at said locations;
- means for mounting the substrate and tip so that they can be moved relative to each other in the x, y and z directions to scan the surface of the substrate and to control the spacing of the metal tip relative to the metal whereby the probe sequentially cooperates with sample at each of said spaced locations;
- a light source for projecting a light beam onto said nanoantenna at each of said locations to cause plasmon resonance which excites the sample at said locations to cause sample to vibrate and generate Raman scatter;
- and
- a Raman spectrophotometer for collecting the Raman scatter and providing an output characteristic of the sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.