Nanofiber-excited plasmonic manipulation of polystyrene nanospheres

Abstract

This paper reports optical nanofiber-excited plasmonic manipulation of polystyrene nanospheres. Gold nanoparticles (200 nm in diameter) are deposited on the surface of a nanofiber, and their local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) is excited by the evanescent wave around the nanofiber. Theoretical results indicate that, the field enhancement resulting from the LSPR excitation can generate an enhanced gradient and scattering forces acting on the spheres, and an accelerated propulsion occurred. To verify the prediction, experiments were performed to trap and transport polystyrene nanospheres along a 500 nm diameter fiber decorated with gold nanoparticles, the average enhancement factor of the velocity of spheres for the LSPR case is found to be about 5 times with respect to the nanofiber case.