Dresden 2026 – scientific programme

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O: Fachverband Oberflächenphysik

O 43: Scanning probe microscopy: light matter interaction at atomic scales – Poster

O 43.10: Poster

Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 14:00–16:00, P2

THz-driven plasmonic STM luminescence — •Alkisti Vaitsi, Luis Enrique Parra López, Vivien Sleziona, Martin Wolf, and Melanie Müller — Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Berlin, Germany

We combine THz scanning tunneling microscopy (THz-STM) with visible light detection to investigate ultrafast STM- luminescence (STML) luminescence from atomic-scale plasmonic junctions. The luminescence is driven by single- cycle THz pulses which act as a quasi-static ultrafast bias. This enables femtosecond gating of ultrafast tunneling currents and the excitation of localized surface plasmon (LSP) modes via ultrafast inelastic tunneling. Our measurements, combined with numerical reconstruction of THz-STML spectra from static STML spectra, show that a quantum cutoff is often absent in THz-STML. In addition, THz-STML spectra frequently exhibit a distinct spectral shape that differs from that predicted from quasi-static, single-electron tunneling-induced luminescence. We discuss the role of overbias emission, hot luminescence, and femtosecond plasmon dynamics in THz-gated STML.

Keywords: THz-driven scanning tunneling microscopy; Scanning tunneling electroluminescence; Plasmonic nanocavities; Localised surface plasmon