A stable nonlinear optical point light source is investigated, based on field enhancement at individual, pointed gold nanocones with sub-wavelength dimensions. Exciting these cones with near-infrared, focused radially polarized femtosecond beams allows for tip-emission at the second harmonic wavelength (second harmonic generation, SHG) in the visible range. In fact, gold nanocones with ultra-sharp tips possess interesting nonlinear optical (NLO) properties for SHG and two-photon photoluminescence (TPPL) emission, due to the enhanced electric field confinement at the tip apex combined with centrosymmetry breaking. Using two complementary optical setups for bottom or top illumination a sharp tip SHG emission is discriminated from the broad TPPL background continuum. Moreover, comparing the experiments with theoretical calculations manifests that these NLO signatures originate either from the tip apex or the base edge of the nanocones, clearly depending on the cone size, the surrounding medium, and illumination conditions. Finally, it is demonstrated that the tip-emitted signal vanishes when switching from radial to azimuthal polarization.

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In this study, a Monte Carlo (MC)-based beam model for an ELEKTA linear accelerator was established. The beam model is based on the EGSnrc Monte Carlo code, whereby electron beams with nominal energies of 10, 12 and 15 MeV were considered. For collimation of the electron beam, only the integrated photon multi-leaf-collimators (MLCs) were used. No additional secondary or tertiary add-ons like applicators, cutouts or dedicated electron MLCs were included. The source parameters of the initial electron beam were derived semi-automatically from measurements of depth-dose curves and lateral profiles in a water phantom. A routine to determine the initial electron energy spectra was developed which fits a Gaussian spectrum to the most prominent features of depth-dose curves. The comparisons of calculated and measured depth-dose curves demonstrated agreement within 1%/1 mm. The source divergence angle of initial electrons was fitted to lateral dose profiles beyond the range of electrons, where the imparted dose is mainly due to bremsstrahlung produced in the scattering foils. For accurate modelling of narrow beam segments, the influence of air density on dose calculation was studied. The air density for simulations was adjusted to local values (433 m above sea level) and compared with the standard air supplied by the ICRU data set. The results indicate that the air density is an influential parameter for dose calculations. Furthermore, the default value of the BEAMnrc parameter 'skin depth' for the boundary crossing algorithm was found to be inadequate for the modelling of small electron fields. A higher value for this parameter eliminated discrepancies in too broad dose profiles and an increased dose along the central axis. The beam model was validated with measurements, whereby an agreement mostly within 3%/3 mm was found.

SummaryRegular arrays of metallic nano-triangles – so called Fischer patterns – are fabricated by nano-sphere lithography. We studied such gold nano-triangle arrays on silicon or glass substrates. A series of different samples was investigated with a parabolic mirror based confocal microscope where the sample is scanned through the laser focus. By employing higher order laser modes (azimuthally and radially polarised laser beams), we can excite the Fischer patterns using either a pure in-plane (x,y) electric field or a strongly z-directional (optical axis of the optical microscope) electric field. We collected and evaluated the emitted luminescence and thereby investigated the respectively excited plasmonic modes. These varied considerably: firstly with the light polarisation in the focus, secondly with the aspect ratio of the triangles and thirdly with the employed substrate. Moreover, we obtained strongly enhanced Raman spectra of an adenine (sub-)monolayer on gold Fischer patterns on glass. We thus showed that gold Fischer patterns are promising surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates.

We investigate numerically a Scanning Near field Optical Microscope (SNOM) that uses a Parabolic Mirror (PM) to focus a radially polarized beam on a metallic tip. In order to overcome problems--like overestimated near fields or resonances--that arise when only considering finite tips, we have introduced a semi-infinite continuation of the tip, which incorporates the analytic solution of surface waves. For a realistic modeling the right description of the incident field is essential and we have complied with this requirement by a Bessel expansion of the focal fields, which is also applicable to an aplanatic objective. The established numerical model is used for an extensive study of model parameters like tip geometry, illumination directions and tip materials (Ag, Au, Al and Cu). Compared with a simplified inverted microscope configuration, the PM setup shows an increased field enhancement (factor of 2-2.5), which can be ascribed to the efficient coupling of the exciting field to tip surface plasmons.