Control and imaging of single-molecule spectral dynamics using a nano-electrode

Abstract

We study the influence of a scanning nano-electrode on the fluorescence excitation spectra of single terrylene molecules embedded in thin p-terphenyl films at cryogenic temperatures. We show that applied voltages of less than 10 V can result in reversible Stark shifts of up to 100 times and a linewidth increase greater than 10 times the natural linewidth. We discuss the potential of our experimental scheme for the direct imaging of individual two-level systems in the nanometer vicinity of single molecules.