Aude L. Lereu (post-doc)

ICFO-Institut de Ciències Fotòniques
Nanophotonics Group (Prof. Niek F. Van Hulst)
Mediterranean Technology Park
Av. Canal Olímpic, s/n
08860 Castelldefels (Barcelona), Spain

aude.lereu@icfo.es
 Aude L. Lereu received her PhD in Physics (Nanotechnology) in 2005 at the Department of Physics of the University of Burgundy, Dijon, France, after carrying out her research program at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, USA, in the Nanoscale Science & Devices Group.

Curriculum vitae

Research projects at ICFO

Group leader Prof. Niek F. Van Hulst

A. Advanced nanophotonic probes

Designing new probes based on the tip-on-aperture technique to enhance the local field at the end of aperture probes of a near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM).

We attempt to combine the low background noise of an aperture system with the high resolution of an apertureless one by growing optical nanoantennas in the vicinity of apertures. We are also interested in the optical resonance modes of such antennas to assess the best tip-on-aperture geometrical parameters.

B. Local fields & nanostructures

Studying local fields in the vicinity of nanostructures (for example corrals), fluorescent molecules using near-field scanning optical microscopy, and studying reciprocally the local field of the conceived tip-on-aperture probes.

We endeavor to investigate nanostructures-induced local field by coupling single fluorescent molecule detection with near field scanning optical microscopy. Both local field at the samples plane and from the nanophotonic probes are explored.

Other research projects





Experimental configuration

A. Surface plasmons

The aim of this work was to demonstrate the potential of optical modulation utilizing surface plasmon (SP) excited in the Kretschmann configuration.

1- Surface plasmon assisted coupling (SPAC):

We investigate a new thermo-optic effect in thin metallic films resulting from two SP excitations, employing the model of the pump/probe technique. This drove us to a form of all-optical modulation at low repetition rates (below 10 kHz). A modulated infrared pump beam couples with several visible beams incident at their respective resonance angles. The infrared laser action is shown in the reflected visible beams which undergo spatial distribution changes and intensity variations as a function of the infrared beam parameters (frequency of modulation, wavelength, intensity, polarization).

 (18MB Movie) SPAC

2- Opto-electronic/electro-optic modulation:

This form of modulation is based on the same principle as SPAC by coupling a SP with a flow of electrons. We observed for this coupling a qualitatively similar behavior as in SPAC.

 SP-electrons flow coupling

3- Plasmonic interference imaged by Photon Scanning Tunneling Microscope (PSTM):

 PSTM images

4- Plasmonic Marangoni Forces

B. Microcantilevers investigations

1- Evaluate the Knudsen forces at the microscale:

When two structures with different temperatures, are distant by the mean free path of the ambient molecules, kinetic forces can be installed between the two objects. These forces are also called Knudsen forces. We investigated these forces utilizing capacitance microcantilevers to evaluate them in micromechanical devices. Our studies demonstrate that the Knudsen forces can become significant under certain temperature and pressure conditions. This effect should contribute to the improvement in force measurements in microdevices and in atomic force microscopy, and also to the development of new MEMs such as micropump based on thermal transpiration.

 Capacitive microcantilever

 Pressure dependence

 Thermal dependence

2- Real-time detection of Alcohol:

In collaboration with the Department of Physics of the University of Tennessee and the ORNL, we have developed a new technique for low concentration detection of ethanol in the human body based on a polymer-based recognition microcantilevers assembly. To obtain good sensitivity and selectivity to ethanol, delicate examination of various polymer-coatings is required enabling the detection of the desired substance among others present in the human body.

 Piezoresistive cantilevers array

Copyright: The articles are copyright by the respective publishers, and may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the respective publishers.


List of publications

2007
A. L. Lereu,
Nature Photonics 1, 368 (July 2007).		 PDF
A. Passian, A. L. Lereu, D. Yi, S. Barhen, and T. Thundat,
Phys. Rev. B 75 (19), 233403 (2007); Virtual Journal of Nanoscale Science & Technology 15 (25) (2007).		 PDF
D. Yi, A. Passian, A. L. Lereu, and T. Thundat,
Ultramicroscopy, (2007).		 PDF
A. Passian, A. L. Lereu, R. H. Farahi, T. L. Ferrell, and T. Thundat,
Book chapter of "Trends in Solid Films Research" ISBN:1-60021-455-X, Nova Science Publisher, New-York (2007).		 PDF
A. L. Lereu, G. Sanchez-Mosteiro, P. Ghenuche, R. Quidant, and N. F. van Hulst,
J. Microscopy, (2007).		 PDF

2006
A. L. Lereu, A. Passian, R. H. Farahi, S. Zahrai, and T. Thundat,
J. Eur. Opt. Soc. - Rapide publications 1, 06030 (2006).		 PDF
C. Parks-Cheney, A. Wig, D. L. Hedden, A. Gehl, A. L. Lereu, R. H. Farahi, S. R. Hunter, and T. L. Ferrell,
Rev. Sci. Instr. 77, 095101 (2006).		 PDF
A. Passian, S. Zahrai, A. L. Lereu, R. H. Farahi, T. L. Ferrell, and T. Thundat,
Phys. Rev. E 73, 066311 (2006).		 PDF
R. H. Farahi, A. Passian, S. Zahrai, A. L. Lereu, T. L. Ferrell, and T. Thundat,
Ultramicroscopy 106, 815 (2006).		 PDF
A. Passian, A. L. Lereu, R. H. Ritchie, F. Meriaudeau, T. Thundat, and T. L. Ferrell,
Thin Solid Films 497, 315 (2006).		 PDF

2005
A. Passian, A. L. Lereu, A. Wig, F. Meriaudeau, T. Thundat, and T. L. Ferrell,
Phys. Rev. B 71 (12), 115425 (2005).		 PDF
A. L. Lereu, A. Passian, J-P. Goudonnet, T. Thundat, and T. L. Ferrell,
Appl. Phys. Lett. 86, 154101 (2005).		 PDF
A. Passian, R. H. Ritchie, A. L. Lereu, T. Thundat, and T. L. Ferrell,
Phys. Rev. B 71 (7), 165418 (2005).		 PDF
A. Passian, A. L. Lereu, E. T. Arakawa, A. Wig, T. Thundat, and T. L. Ferrell,
Optics Letters 30 (1), 41 (2005).		 PDF

2004
A. Passian, A. Wig, A. L. Lereu, P. G. Evans, F. Meriaudeau, T. Thundat, and T. L. Ferrell,
Ultramicroscopy 100 (3-4), 429 (2004).		 PDF
A. Passian, A. Wig, A. L. Lereu, F. Meriaudeau, T. Thundat, and T. L. Ferrell,
Appl. Phys. Lett. 85 (16), 3420 (2004).		 PDF
A. Passian, A. L. Lereu, E. T. Arakawa, R. H. Ritchie, T. Thundat, and T. L. Ferrell,
Appl. Phys. Lett. 85 (14), 2703 (2004).		 PDF
A. L. Lereu, A. Passian, T. L. Ferrell, and T. Thundat,
Appl. Phys. Lett. 84 (6), 1013 (2004); Virtual Journal of Nanoscale Science & Technology 9 (6) (2004).		 PDF

To be submitted
A. L. Lereu, A. Passian, S. Zahrai, T. Thundat, and T. L. Ferrell,
To be submitted to J. Appl. Phys. (2006).		 PDF
A. Passian, A. L. Lereu, S. Zahrai, T. L. Ferrell, and T. Thundat,
To be submitted to Mod. Phys. Rev. Lett. B, (2006).		 PDF
A. Passian, R. H. Ritchie, A. L. Lereu, T. Thundat, and T. L. Ferrell,
Preprint.		 PDF

Proceedings/Presentations

2007
A. L. Lereu, P. Ghenuche, G. Sanchez-Mosteiro, A. Passian, J. P. Hoogenboom, R. Quidant, and N. F. van Hulst, "Probing local field at individual metallic antennas by near-field microscopy and single particle luminescence," International Conference on Nano Science and Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, July 02-06, 2007.
A. L. Lereu, P. Ghenuche, G. Sanchez-Mosteiro, J. P. Hoogenboom, R. Quidant, and N. F. van Hulst, "Probing local field at individual metallic antennas by near-field microscopy and single particle luminescence," Third International Conference on Surface Plasmon Photonics, Dijon, France, June 17-22, 2007.
A. L. Lereu, T. H. Taminiau, F. B. Segerink, and N. F. van Hulst, "Resonant nano-optical antennas for high resolution single molecule probing," 10th Annual Linz Winter Workshop: Advances in single-molecule research for biology and nanoscience, Linz, Austria, February 2-5, 2007.
A. L. Lereu, A. Passian, R. H. Farahi, T. G. Thundat, and N. F. van Hulst,
"Optical antennas and near field,"
Colloquium presented at the Oak Ridge National laboratory, Oak Ridge Tennessee, USA, January 18, 2007.

2006
A. L. Lereu, G. Sanchez-Mosteiro, P. Ghenuche, R. Quidant, and N. F. van Hulst,
"Individual gold dimers investigated by far and near field imaging,"
Asprint - Advanced Scanning Probes Workshop, Dublin, Ireland, November 27-28, 2006
A. L. Lereu, A. Passian, R. H. Farahi, S. Zahrai, and T. Thundat,
"Plasmonic Marangoni manipulations at the microscale,"
The European Optical Society Annual Meeting (TOM 3: Nanophotonics, Metamaterials and Optical Microcavities), Paris, France, October 16-19, 2006.
A. L. Lereu, G. Sanchez-Mosteiro, P. Ghenuche, R. Quidant, and N. F. van Hulst,
"Local field at single metallic dimers,"
NFO9 - 9th International Conference on Near-field Optics, Nanophotonics and Related Techniques, Lausanne, Switzerland, September 10-15, 2006.
T. H. Taminiau, A. L. Lereu, R. M. Moerland, L. Kuipers, and N. F. van Hulst,
"A resonant optical nanoantenna for high resolution single molecule probing,"
NFO9 - 9th International Conference on Near-field Optics, Nanophotonics and Related Techniques, Lausanne, Switzerland, September 10-15, 2006.
T. H. Taminiau, R. M. Moerland, F. B. Segerink, L. Kuipers, A. L. Lereu, and N. F. van Hulst,
"Resonant nano-optical antennas for high resolution single molecule detection,"
Asprint - Advanced Scanning Probes Workshop, Barcelona, Spain, May 18-19, 2006.
A. L. Lereu, A. Passian, JP. Goudonnet, and N. F. van Hulst,
"Surface Plasmons Assisted Thermal Couplings,"
The European Optical Society: EOS Topical Meeting on Molecular Plasmonic Devices, Engelberg, Switzerland, April 27-29, 2006.
A. L. Lereu, A. Passian, S. Zahrai, and N. F. van Hulst,
"Surface Plasmons Based Thermo-optic Couplings,"
Colloquium presented at the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, April 07, 2006.
A. L. Lereu, A. Passian, S. Zahrai, and N. F. van Hulst,
"All-optical Modulation Processes Employing Surface Plasmons,"
Colloquium presented at ABB Sweden, Västerås, Sweden, April 05, 2006.

2005
A. L. Lereu, A. Passian, S. Zahrai, T. L. Ferrell, and T. Thundat,
"All-optical Modulation Processes in Thin Metal Films Using Thermo-plasmonics,"
International meeting in Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM), Cancun, Mexico, June 05- 08, 2005.
A. Passian, S. Zahrai, A. L. Lereu, T. L. Ferrell, and T. Thundat,
"Microscale Marangoni Actuation via Nonradiative Surface Plasmon Decay,"
International meeting in Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM), Cancun, Mexico, June 05- 08, 2005.
D. Yi, A. Passian, A. L. Lereu, and T. Thundat,
"An Experimental Investigation of Analog Delay Generation for Dynamic Control of Microcantilevers,"
International meeting in Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM), Cancun, Mexico, June 05- 08, 2005.
A. Passian, A. L. Lereu, and T. Thundat,
"An Investigation of the Microscale Radiometric Forces,"
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Nanomechanics: Sensors & Actuators Impact Forum, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, May 16- 18, 2005.
A. L. Lereu, A. Passian, J-P. Goudonnet, T. Thundat, T. L. Ferrell,
"Modulation Processes Employing Non-radiative Surface Plasmon Decay,"
Colloquium presented at the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, April 08, 2005.
A. L. Lereu, A. Passian, J-P. Goudonnet, T. Thundat, T. L. Ferrell,
"Modulation Processes Employing Non-radiative Surface Plasmon Decay,"
Colloquium presented at the University of Twente, Enschede, Netherland, April 05, 2005.

2004
A. L. Lereu, A. Passian, S. Zahrai, T. L. Ferrell, and T. Thundat,
"Thermal Forces at the Microscale,"
Colloquium presented at the Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France, September 15, 2004.
A. L. Lereu, A. Passian, S. Zahrai, T. L. Ferrell, and T. Thundat,
"An Investigation of the Microscale Radiometric Forces,"
Colloquium presented at the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, September 21, 2004.

2003
A. Passian, A. Wig, A. L. Lereu, F. Meriaudeau, T. Thundat, and T. L. Ferrell,
"Plasmon Interference,"
Oral presentation at the Scanning Probe Microscopy Sensors and Nanostructures Conference, Oxford, U.K., May 23-26, 2003.
A. L. Lereu, A. Passian, T. L. Ferrell, and T. Thundat,
"Near Field Surface Plasmons Interference,"
Colloquium presented at the Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France, September 12, 2003.
A. L. Lereu, A. Passian, T. L. Ferrell, and T. Thundat,
"An Investigation of Knudsen Effect with Microcantilever,"
Poster presented at the International micro and nanotechnology meeting (Rencontres internationales des micro et nanotechnologies) MINATEC 2003, Grenoble (Alpes congrès), France, September 22-26, 2003.

Collaborations

Prof. Ali Passian

 Nanoscale Science & Devices Group, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
Ph: (865) 241-6204, Email: passianan@ornl.gov		 Project: -SP work for modulation purposes and/or microdroplet Marangoni actuation
-NSOM/PSTM work

Prof. Said Zahrai

Group leader at ABB, Sweden 		Department of Mechanics, The Royal Institute of Technology (RIT), Stockholm, Sweden,
Ph: (46) 70-5323026, Email: said.zahrai@mech.kth.se		 Project: SP work for modulation purposes and/or microdroplet Marangoni actuation

Prof. Jean-Pierre Goudonnet

 Département de Physique, Laboratoire d'optique submicronique, Université de Bourgogne, 21011 Dijon, France
Ph: +33 (0)3 80 39 60 26, Email: Jean-Pierre.Goudonnet@u-bourgogne.fr		 Project: NSOM/PSTM work

Dr. Rubye H. Farahi

 Nanoscale Science & Devices Group, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
Ph: (865) 574-6219, Email: farahirh@ornl.gov		 Project: -SP microdroplet Marangoni actuation
-NSOM/PSTM work

Dr. Thomas L. Ferrell

Distinguished scientist, Group Leader and APS fellow 		University of Tennessee, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Ph: (865) 974-2609, Email: tferrell@utk.edu		 Project: Microcantilever-based sensors

Dr. Thomas G. Thundat

Distinguished scientist, Group Leader and APS fellow 		Nanoscale Science & Devices Group, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
Ph: (865) 574-6201, Email: thundattg@ornl.gov		 Project: Microcantilever-based sensors

Dr. Eric Bourillot

 Département de Physique, Laboratoire d'optique submicronique, Université de Bourgogne, 21011 Dijon, France
Ph: +33 (0)3 80 39 60 24, Email: Eric.Bourillot@u-bourgogne.fr		 Project: NSOM/PSTM work

Dr. Fabrice Meriaudeau

 Institut Universitaire de Technologie du Creusot, Université de Bourgogne, 71200 Le Creusot, France
Ph: +33 (0)3 85 73 10 77, Email: fabrice@iutlecreusot.u-bourgogne.fr		 Project: Image processing

References

Prof. Ali Passian

 Nanoscale Science & Devices Group, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
Ph: (865) 574-6219, Email: passianan@ornl.gov

Dr. Thomas L. Ferrell

Distinguished scientist, Group Leader and APS fellow 		University of Tennessee, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Ph: (865) 974-2609, Email: tferrell@utk.edu

Prof. Jean-Pierre Goudonnet

 Département de Physique, Laboratoire d'optique submicronique, Université de Bourgogne, 21011 Dijon, France
Ph: +33 (0)3 80 39 60 26, Email: Jean-Pierre.Goudonnet@u-bourgogne.fr

Dr. Thomas G. Thundat

Distinguished scientist, Group Leader and APS fellow 		Nanoscale Science & Devices Group, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
Ph: (865) 574-6201, Email: thundattg@ornl.gov

Dr. Rufus H. Ritchie

Distinguished scientist and APS fellow 		Nanoscale Science & Devices Group, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
Ph: (865) 574-6214, Email: ritchierh@ornl.gov

Dr. Robert J. Warmack

Distinguished scientist and APS fellow 		Nanoscale Science & Devices Group, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, USA
Ph: (865) 574-6202, Email: warmackrj@ornl.gov