Over the last 50 years we have seen the rapid growth in classical fluorescence spectroscopy, i.e. far-field fluorescence, where fluorescence today is now entrenched throughout the entire life sciences. In addition, the last decade has seen the significant use of noble metal nanoparticles and nanoparticulate surfaces to enhance near-field fluorescence signatures, i.e. the fluorescence of fluorophore molecules less than one wavelength of light away from a plasmonic nanoparticle or structure. This book provides the very first comprehensive overview of the subject matter in a text book style format. The book is focused to readers wanting an in depth discussion about Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence, relevant theory and applications, yet at the same time, general enough to attract students and new comers to the field.

Topics Covered include: Introduction to Surface Plasmons, Historical observations of Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence, Plasmonic engineering of surfaces for the visible spectrum, Plasmonic engineering in the UV and Near-Infrared, Distance dependence of MEF, Spectral Modifications/Wavelength Dependence of MEF, MEF Excitation Volumetric effects, Metal-Enhanced Phosphorescence, Metal-Enhanced (Plasmonic) Generation of Reactive Singlet Oxygen Species, Metal-Enhanced alpha-Fluorescence, P and E-type Fluorescence, Multi-photon Excited Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence, Single Molecule Studies near-to MEF substrates, Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy near-to MEF substrates, Enhancing Fluorescence with sub wavelength metallic Apertures, Applications of Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence in sensing / BioSensing, Future of Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence