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Ultrasharp nonlinear photothermal and photoacoustic resonances and holes beyond the spectral limit

Nature Photonics volume 5, pages 110–116 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

High-resolution nonlinear laser spectroscopy based on absorption saturation, Lamb-dip and spectral hole-burning phenomena has contributed much to basic and applied photonics. Here, a laser spectroscopy based on nonlinear nanobubble-related photothermal and photoacoustic phenomena is presented. It shows ultrasharp resonances and dips up to a few nanometres wide in broad plasmonic spectra of nanoparticles. It also demonstrates narrowing of absorption spectra of dyes and cellular chromophores, as well as an increase in the sensitivity and resolution of the spectral hole-burning technique. This approach can permits the study of nonlinear plasmonics at a level of resolution beyond the spectral limits, the identification of weakly absorbing spectral holes, spectral optimization of photothermal nanotherapy, measurements of tiny red and blue resonance shifts in nanoplasmonic sensors, the use of negative contrast in photoacoustic technique, multispectral imaging and multicolour cytometry.

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Figure 1: Phenomenological model of nonlinear PT/PA spectroscopy.
Figure 2: Nonlinear spectra of gold nanorods.
Figure 3: Ultrasharp resonances in gold-based nanoparticles and quantum dots.
Figure 4: Sharpening of PT spectra of cells.
Figure 5: PA and conventional absorption spectra of dyes.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (R01EB000873, R01CA131164, R01EB009230, R21EB0005123 and R21CA139373) and the National Science Foundation (DBI-0852737). I would like to thank J.-W. Kim for providing golden carbon nanotubes, N. Khlebtsov for providing gold nanorods and nanoshells, A. Wang for providing conjugated quantum dots, D. Lapotko for help with building the first (Supplementary Fig. S2a) PT microscope, E.V. Shashkov, D.A. Nedosekin and S. Fergusson for their assistance with laser measurements, Jian-Hui Ye for sample preparation, and E.I. Galanzha, M. Sarimollaoglu and W. Gabello for help with preparation of the manuscript.

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  1. Phillips Classic Laser and Nanomedicine Laboratories, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, 72205, Arkansas, USA

    Vladimir P. Zharov

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  1. Vladimir P. Zharov
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V.P.Z. proposed the concept of nonlinear PT and PA spectroscopy in 2005, performed its experimental verifications with the help of colleagues in 2005–2009, and wrote the paper.

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Correspondence to Vladimir P. Zharov.

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Zharov, V. Ultrasharp nonlinear photothermal and photoacoustic resonances and holes beyond the spectral limit. Nature Photon 5, 110–116 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2010.280

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