The fluorescence rate of a single molecule close to a spherical metallic nanoparticle

The theoretical study of fluorescence rate of a single molecule close to a spherical metallic nanoparticle is presented. The dielectric function of the metallic nanoparticle and its polarizability is analyzed when the radii of the nanoparticle is rather small. Based on dipole–dipole model, the distance dependence of the excitation rate, radiation rate, nonradiation rate and quantum yield of the emitter molecule are derived out. The results show that the quantum yield is rather small at the vicinity of the metallic nanoparticle surface.