DocumentCode :
1938173
Title :
Can nanophotonics control the Förster resonance energy transfer efficiency?
Author :
Blum, Christian ; Zijlstra, N. ; Lagendijk, Ad ; Wubs, M. ; Mosk, Allard P. ; Subramaniam, Vinod ; Vos, Willem L.
Author_Institution :
MESA+ Inst. for Nanotechnol., Univ. of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
fYear :
2013
fDate :
12-16 May 2013
Firstpage :
1
Lastpage :
1
Abstract :
Summary form only given. Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is the dominant nonradiative energy transfer mechanism between a donor and acceptor fluorophore in nanometer proximity. FRET plays a pivotal role in the photosynthetic apparatus of plants and bacteria and many applications, ranging from photovoltaics and lighting, to probing molecular distances and interactions.It is an intriguing open question whether the FRET rate γFRET and the energy transfer efficiency ηFRET can also be controlled by the nanoscale optical environment, characterized by the local density of optical states (LDOS) [1]. Pioneering work suggested that the transfer rate depends linearly on the LDOS at the donor emission frequency [2], while later work suggested a dependence on the LDOS squared [3], or even a transfer rate independent of the LDOS [4]. We study the influence of the LDOS on Förster transfer, using precisely-defined, isolated, and efficient donor-acceptor pairs. The FRET pairs are dye molecules that covalently bound to the opposite ends of a 15 basepair long double-stranded with a precisely defined distance of 6.8 nm. Control over the LDOS is realized by positioning the FRET systems at well-defined distances (ranging from 60 nm to 270 nm) from a metallic mirror. The energy transfer rate γFRET and efficiency ηFRET are obtained by measuring the donor emission rate γDA in presence and the rate γD in absence of the acceptor using time-correlated single-photon counting based lifetime imaging. Our data unequivocally show that the FRET rate is independent of the LDOS at donor emission frequencies, consistent with quantum-optical theory. The FRET efficiency clearly changes with LDOS [5], since the LDOS alters the competition between the different decay processes. By controlling the radiative decay rate of the energy donor by the LDOS, the energy transfer efficiency can be enhanced or reduced. If a donor with unit qua- tum efficiency is placed in a 3D photonic bandgap, the energy transfer efficiency will approach 100 %, independent of the acceptor, and of the distances and orientations between the FRET partners.
Keywords :
biochemistry; dyes; microorganisms; mirrors; molecular biophysics; nanophotonics; photon counting; photonic band gap; photosynthesis; 3D photonic bandgap; FRET efficiency; FRET pairs; FRET partners; FRET rate; FRET systems; Forster resonance energy transfer efficiency; LDOS; acceptor fluorophore; bacteria; basepair long double-stranded molecules; decay processes; distance 6.8 nm; distance 60 nm to 270 nm; donor emission frequencies; donor emission frequency; donor emission rate; donor fluorophore; donor-acceptor pairs; dye molecules; energy donor; energy transfer rate; lifetime imaging; lighting; local density of optical states; metallic mirror; molecular distances; molecular interactions; nanometer proximity; nanophotonics; nanoscale optical environment; nonradiative energy transfer mechanism; photosynthetic apparatus; photovoltaics; plants; quantum-optical theory; radiative decay rate; time-correlated single-photon counting; unit quantum efficiency; Educational institutions; Energy exchange; Nanophotonics; Optical imaging; Stimulated emission;
fLanguage :
English
Publisher :
ieee
Conference_Titel :
Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe (CLEO EUROPE/IQEC), 2013 Conference on and International Quantum Electronics Conference
Conference_Location :
Munich
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4799-0593-5
Type :
conf
DOI :
10.1109/CLEOE-IQEC.2013.6801861
Filename :
6801861
Link To Document :
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