Improving the radiative decay rate for dye molecules with hyperbolic metamaterials

J. Kim, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University
Vladimir P. Drachev, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University
Z. Jacob, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University; University of Alberta
Gururaj V. Naik, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University
Alexandra Boltasseva, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University
Evgenii E. Narimanov, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University
Vladimir M. Shalaev, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University

Abstract

We directly demonstrate an improvement in the radiative decay rate of dye molecules near multilayer hyperbolic metamaterials (HMMs). Our comprehensive study shows a radiative decay rate for rhodamine 800 (Rh800) that is several times higher due to the use of HMM samples as compared to dielectric substrates. This is also the first experimental demonstration that multilayer hyperbolic metamaterials provide an increase in the radiative decay rate relative to those from either thin or thick gold films. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America

Discipline(s)

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology