Surface plasmon interference excited by tightly focused laser beams.

Journal Article · Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2007 · Opt. Lett.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.32.002535· OSTI ID:920575

Bouhelier, A; Ignatovich, F; Bruyant, A; Huang, C; Colas des Francs, G; Weeber, J -C; Dereux, A; Wiederrecht, G P; Novotny, L; Bourgogne, Univ de

We show that interfering surface plasmon polaritons can be excited with a focused laser beam at normal incidence to a plane metal film. No protrusions or holes are needed in this excitation scheme. Depending on the axial position of the focus, the intensity distribution on the metal surface is either dominated by interferences between counterpropagating plasmons or by a two-lobe pattern characteristic of localized surface plasmon excitation. Our experiments can be accurately explained by use of the angular spectrum representation and provide a simple means for locally exciting standing surface plasmon polaritons.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC); Regional Council of Brugundy; US Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR); Petroleum Research Foundation
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 920575
• Report Number(s): ANL/CNM/JA-60653; OPLEDP; TRN: US0805299
• Journal Information: Opt. Lett., Vol. 32, Issue 17 ; Sep. 1, 2007; ISSN 0146-9592
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: ENGLISH

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
DISTRIBUTION
EXCITATION
LASERS
PLASMONS
POLARONS