We have developed a simple, fast, and flexible technique to measure optical scattering spectra of individual metallic nanoparticles. The particles are placed in an evanescent field produced by total internal reflection of light from a halogen lamp in a glass prism. The light scattered by individual particles is collected using a conventional microscope and is spectrally analyzed by a nitrogen-cooled charge-coupled-device array coupled to a spectrometer. This technique is employed to measure the effect of particle diameter on the dephasing time of the particle plasmon resonance in gold nanoparticles. We also demonstrate the use of this technique for measurements in liquids, which is important for the potential application of particle plasmons in chemical or biological nanosensors

We report on direct evidence of ultrafast carrier dynamics displaying features on the picosecond time scale in microcrystalline silicon (c-Si:H). The dynamics of photogenerated carriers is studied by using above-band-gap optical excitation and probing the instantaneous carrier mobility and density with a THz pulse. Within the first picoseconds after excitation, the THz transmission transients show a fast initial decay of the photoinduced absorption followed by a slower decrease due to carrier recombination. We propose that the initial fast decay in the THz transients is due to carrier capture in the trapping states.

Using a mixed type-I/type-II GaAs/AlAs multiple-quantum-well sample, we have demonstrated an optically controllable and tunable terahertz (THz) filter. Long-lived electron–hole pairs in the quantum wells allow for efficient THz attenuation over a large THz spot size (2 mm) for extremely low optical cw power. This sample can also be used as an optically tunable THz phase shifter. The optically induced change of the GaAs quantum wells from a dielectric to a conducting material leads to the observed attenuation and the shifting of the THz wave forms.

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We have dramatically enhanced the photoluminescence intensity emitted from a single quantum well (typically by factors of 3–6) by covering the sample surface with a thin semitransparent metallic film. Using a photolithographically prepared gold grating, we show that this enhancement is due to the excitation of surface plasmons on the metal. By selectively turning off the surface plasmon excitation via sample or light polarization rotation, the enhancement can be suppressed.

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We demonstrate a method for 3-dimensional force calibration of optical tweezers by recording the trapping dynamics of polystyrene beads. This is realized by time-resolved detection of the horizontal and vertical position of a bead which is drawn to the focus of a laser beam. The method provides real time characterization of the force pro® le of an optical trap in all directions.