Ultraprecision Imaging and Manipulation of Plasmonic Nanostructures by Integrated Nanoscopic Correction

Optical manipulation and imaging of nano-objects with nanometer precision is highly desirable for nanomaterial and biological studies due to inherent noninvasiveness. However, time constraints and current segregated experimental systems for nanoimaging and nanomanipulation limits real-time super-resolution imaging with spatially enhanced manipulation. Here, an integrated nanoscopic correction (iNC) method to enable multimodal nanomanipulation-nanoimaging is reported. The iNC consists of a multimodal voltage-tunable power modulator, polarization rotator, and polarizer. Using the iNC, plasmonic nano-objects which are below the diffraction limit and which can be distinguished by direct observation without post processing are demonstrated. Furthermore, such direct observations with enhanced nanometer spatial stability and millisecond high speed are shown. Precise trapping and rapid rotation of gold nanorods with the iNC are demonstrated successfully. With non-invasive post-processing free nanoimaging and nanomanipulation, it is anticipated that the iNC will make contributions in the nanomaterial and biological sciences requiring precision optics.

Automated summary

This study introduces an integrated nanoscopic correction method for multimodal nanomanipulation-nanoimaging, demonstrating the ability to observe plasmonic nano-objects below the diffraction limit in real-time with enhanced spatial manipulation. The method also allows for precise trapping and rapid rotation of gold nanorods with non-invasive post-processing free nanoimaging and nanomanipulation capabilities. It is expected to make contributions in nanomaterial and biological sciences requiring precision optics.