Laser ablation of polymer coatings allows for electromagnetic field enhancement mapping around nanostructures

Subdiffraction spatially resolved, quantitative mapping of strongly localized field intensity enhancement on gold nanostructures via laser ablation of polymer thin films is reported. Illumination using a femtosecond laser scanning microscope excites surface plasmons in the nanostructures. The accompanying field enhancement substantially lowers the ablation threshold of the polymer film and thus creates local ablation spots and corresponding topographic modifications of the polymer film. Such modifications are quantified straightforwardly via scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Thickness variation in the polymer film enables the investigation of either the initial ablation phase or ablation induced by collective enhancement effects