Ultrafast nonlinear spectroscopy of a single silver nanoparticle

Abstract

Abstract The time‐domain nonlinear spectroscopy of a single silver nano‐object is investigated by combining the spatial modulation linear spectroscopy technique with a high‐sensitivity femtosecond pump–probe setup. The investigated single nanoparticle is first optically characterized for size and shape via quantitative measurement of its linear absorption spectrum, and time‐resolved nonlinear pump‐probe measurements are subsequently performed on the same particle. The breathing mode period of a single nanoparticle measured in the time domain is found to be in good agreement with that inferred by the optically deduced particle characteristics, opening the way of full optical investigation of the acoustic response of the characterized single nanoparticles. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.