Tailoring the molecular fluorescence emission

Fluorescence can be tailored by the vicinity of a metallic interface. Modifying the intensity and the spatial distribution of the emitter radiation as well as the energy transfer between donor and acceptor can benefit to biological applications. Fluorescence enhancement has been investigated by one and two-photon fluorescence microscopy with time and spectral resolution. Besides, the spatial emission pattern which gives access to crucial parameters of the coupling processes has been studied using directional excitation and emission with a rotation stage spinning around a sample. By controlling the separation between the fluorophore and the metallic interface, one order of enhancement can be achieved using standard epi-fluorescence optical geometries. Results obtained with DNA chips microarrays will be presented