Abstract: In this presentation a general introduction in the unique optical properties of noble metal nanoparticles will be given. It will be shown, how the ultrafast electron dynamics in the nanoparticles can be exploited to precisely tailor their morphology and, hence, their optical properties. Afterwards, different synthesis techniques are explained and a variety of applica-tions of noble metal nanoparticles will be discussed.
After the introduction in the unique optical properties of noble metal nanoparticles, three dif-ferent physical preparation techniques are presented. For example, a new route for mass fabri-cation of metal nanoparticles with monodisperse shape and narrow size distribution in pure water [1]. For this purpose, we have combined pulsed laser ablation with the technique of selective laser tailoring. I demonstrate that we can easily narrow the width of the initially broad size distribution of the generated nanoparticles from ó = 32% to ó = 20% in a single irradiation step and without a significant change of the mean nanoparticle radius [1].
In the second part of my talk, I demonstrate the preparation and tailoring of noble metal nanoparticles on substrates. Such tailored nanoparticles have a wide range of applications, for example in biosensing, confocal microscopy, or for surface enhanced spectroscopy tech-niques. Examples, were tailored gold and silver nanoparticles have been successfully applied for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy will be given [2].
Finally, experiments aiming at a parallel generation of sub-diffraction sized nanostructures in fused silica will be presented. The key point of these experiments is the electromagnetic near field in the vicinity of highly ordered triangular nanoparticles on substrates, prepared by nanosphere lithography. The near field is exploited to overcome locally the abla-tion threshold of the fused silica sub-strate. For this purpose, supported trian-gular gold nanoparticle arrays have been irradiated with a single 35 fs pulse of a Ti:sapphire multipass amplifier (ë = 790 nm). Depending on the laser fluence and polarisation direction, sub-diffraction sized nanostructures have been gener-ated [3]. An example of such a structure is displayed in figure 2. It shows nano-channels with a mean depth of 5 nm, a width of 95 nm, but with a length of up to 10 ìm.

Brief Biography of the Speaker:
PD Dr. Frank Hubenthal studied initially engineering and afterwards physics at the university of Kassel in Germany. He did his diploma work under supervision of Prof. Dr. G. Kraft, in the biophysics group at the center for heavy ion research in Darmstadt, Germany.
After receiving the diploma in 1997, he switched the topic and investigated anisotropic thin magnetic films under the supervision of Prof. Dr. K. Roll. In 2001 he received his PhD from the university of Kassel.
After a short stay in an engineering group, Frank Hubenthal gets in 2001 a position as a junior scientific researcher in the group of Prof. Dr. F. Trager, again at the university of Kassel, Germany. He investigated, among others, the ultrafast electron dynamics of noble metal nanoparticles and received in this field his habilitation in 2007. Also in 2007 he was elected as a Privatdozent (private lecturer/assistant professor) at the university of Kassel.
In the last years Frank Hubenthal extended his research and investigated possible applications of tailored noble metal nanoparticles as biochemical detection systems. This includes the detection of molecules by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and the detection of molecule binding using the metal nanoparticles as surface plasmon resonance sensors. In addition, he investigated the effect of heavy ion bombardment induced strand breaks of DNA, by extended scanning probe microscopy (SPM) measurements. The obtained results are a first step, to explain the high efficiency of heavy ion bombardment in cancer therapy.
In recent years, Frank Hubenthal has been published a variety of papers in quiet different fields, such as ultrafast electron dynamics of noble metal nanoparticles, tailoring and mass production of noble metal nanoparticles, stresses in thin films, SERS, and ion induced damages of DNA. Furthermore, he is the author of a book chapter with the title: Noble Metal Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Optical Properties. (to appear in: Comprehensive Nanoscience and Technology, Elsevier), and co-organizer of the workshop: "Photophysics of Nanoscale Systems", held during the international conference: "Fundamentals of Laser Assisted Micro– & Nanotechnologies, FLAMN 10", 05. – 08.06.2010 in St. Petersburg, Russia.