Photoelectron emission control with polarized light in plasmonic metal random structures

Journal Article · Mon Jul 25 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3615783· OSTI ID:22027686

Word, R C; Fitzgerald, J; Koenenkamp, R ^[1]

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1. Physics Department, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon 97201 (United States)

We report on the possibility of switching the emission rate of photoelectrons by polarization changes in the plasmon excitation light. Photoelectron emission is strongly enhanced in the near-field of localized surface plasmons and occurs from areas with typical diameters of 20-70 nm. The underlying physical process involves excitation of a localized surface plasmon polariton with a femtosecond laser pulse, and a subsequent multi-photon photoemission process. The non-linearity of this process leads to a sharp polarization dependence that allows efficient switching of the emission. We demonstrate that a 90 deg. polarization change can result in on/off ratios of {approx}100 for electron emission.

• OSTI ID: 22027686
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 99, Issue 4; Other Information: (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
ELECTRON EMISSION
EXCITATION
LASER RADIATION
MULTI-PHOTON PROCESSES
NANOSTRUCTURES
PHOTOEMISSION
PLASMONS
POLARIZATION
POLARONS
RANDOMNESS
SURFACES
VISIBLE RADIATION