Leakage radiation microscopy of surface plasmons launched by a nanodiamond-based tip

Leakage-radiation microscopy of a thin gold film demonstrates the ability of an ensemble of fluorescent diamond nanoparticles attached onto the apex of an optical tip to serve as an efficient near-field surface-plasmon polariton launcher. The implementation of the nanodiamond-based tip in a near-field scanning optical microscope will allow for an accurate control on the launching position, thereby opening the way to scanning plasmonics.

Research highlights
► Nanodiamonds are grafted onto the NSOM tip.
► The tip is brought in the near-field of a thin gold film.
► Nanodiamond fluorescence is coupled to surface plasmons.
► Leakage radiation microscopy is used to image surface plasmons.