Biophotonics: Towards Nondestructive Optical Analysis of Nanostructures Using Photonic Nanojets

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Backman0522639This proposal seeks to experimentally demonstrate and characterize photonic nanojets. Nanojets are created through the local field enhancement of micro-spheres or micro-cylinders and greatly enhance the backscattering of small nanoparticles that are located within their extent. Rigorous FDTD calculations by the investigators have shown that the intensity and angular distribution of backscattered nanoparticles in the nanojets are highly dependent upon the particle size. A unique feature of the nanojets lies in the fact that they are neither diffracting nor evanescent. The investigators propose to use the nanojets as a new sorting method for nanoshells in order to obtain a uniform size distribution to obtain better spectral selectivity in imaging applications. Applications of the nanojets to sorting intracellular macromolecules are also proposed.