Near-field optical mapping of single gold nano particles using photo-induced polymer movement of azo-polymers

In this study, polymer movement was induced in azo-polymer films by optical near-fields generated in the vicinity of single gold nano particles (GNPs) to visualize near-field distribution with a spatial resolution beyond the diffraction limit of light. A linearly polarized (Ex) laser beam was irradiated into GNPs to excite local surface plasmon resonance that enhanced the near-field around the GNPs. The findings indicated that different GNP diameters (that is, 50 nm and 80 nm) resulted in different deformation patterns on the films. The results were compared with theoretical calculations of near-field distributions, and the observations revealed that the deformation patterns were dependent on the ratio between Ex and Ey wherein each possessed a different field distribution.