Imaging and polarization properties of CdSe quantum dot at an interface detected by a high NA objective lens

Abstract

We employ fluorescence emission polarization analysis to determine the three dimensional orientation of a CdSe/ZnS quantum dot (QD).  We explicitly show that due to the isotropic absorption transition dipole moment of the QD, a simple fluorescence image profile analysis cannot give its orientation information.  Hence, we develop a technique for the analysis of the polarization properties of the QD on an interface as detected by a high NA objective.  The experimental results were compared to an analytical model in order to obtain the full three dimensional orientation.