2001/07/02 by Bernhard Lamprecht, B. Lamprecht, Joachim R. Krenn +13 · 8 citations
Engineering · #Plasmonic and Surface Plasmon Research #Photonic and Optical Devices #Near-Field Optical Microscopy
paper · doi:10.1063/1.1380236
Addressing the fundamental question of miniaturization of light guiding and routing towards nanoscale optics, we study experimentally surface plasmon propagation in silver and gold thin films of finite widths in the micrometer range. Spatially confined excitation of surface plasmons is realized by a prism coupling arrangement involving an opaque aluminum screen for a distinct separation of excitation and propagation (measurement) region. The surface plasmon propagation length as a function of film widths is measured by detecting stray light due to surface plasmon scattering with a conventional optical microscope.