Nanophotonic split-ring resonators as dichroics for molecular spectroscopy

We describe the design and fabrication of nanostructured silver split-ring resonators and demonstrate their application as dichroic sensors for multipurpose visible wavelength molecular spectroscopy. By producing arrays of these identical nanostructures, with critical dimensions of 30-150 nm, we demonstrate the controllable generation of plasmonic resonances at two common visible laser wavelengths, produced as a consequence of the polarization of the light with respect to structural geometry. We show the application of these devices in surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy, using their dichroic properties to perform molecular sensing of a self-assembled monolayer of 2-mercaptopyridine at both 532 and 633 nm. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.