Parametric optimization of visible wavelength gold lattice geometries for improved plasmon-enhanced fluorescence spectroscopy.

We report the exploitation of spectroplasmonics for innovations in optical transducer development, specifically in the well-established application of labeled fluorescent analytes known as fluorescence spectroscopy. Presented herein are comprehensive analyses of nanoscale plasmonic lattice feature geometries using finite-difference time-domain software to determine the largest surface electric ($E$E) field enhancement resulting from localized surface plasmon resonance for reducing the limit of detection of plasmon-enhanced fluorescence. This parametric optimization of the critical dimensions of the plasmon resonance of noble metal nanostructures will enable improved excitation and emission enhancement of fluorophores used in visible wavelength fluorescence spectroscopy.