Atomic-Scale Coupling of Photons to Single-Molecule Junctions

Spatial resolution at the atomic scale has been achieved in the coupling of light to single molecules adsorbed on a surface. Electron transfer to a single molecule induced by green to near-infrared light in the junction of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) exhibited spatially varying probability...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2006-06, Vol.312 (5778), p.1362-1365
Main Authors: Wu, S.W, Ogawa, N, Ho, W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atoms & subatomic particles
Electron transfer
Electron tunneling
Electrons
Exact sciences and technology
Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy
Lasers
Light
Microscopy
Molecular spectra
Molecules
Photons
Physics
Resonant tunneling
Sampling bias
Scanning probe microscopes, components and techniques
Scanning tunneling microscopes
Spatial resolution
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Summary:Spatial resolution at the atomic scale has been achieved in the coupling of light to single molecules adsorbed on a surface. Electron transfer to a single molecule induced by green to near-infrared light in the junction of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) exhibited spatially varying probability that is confined within the molecule. The mechanism involves photo-induced resonant tunneling in which a photoexcited electron in the STM tip is transferred to the molecule. The coupling of photons to the tunneling process provides a pathway to explore molecular dynamics with the combined capabilities of lasers and the STM.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1124881