Propagation Of High-Frequency Surface Plasmons On Gold

Abstract

Surface plasmon propagation on gold over 0.1-1.6 micrometer distances for plasmon energies in the range 1.6-3.5 eV was characterized. Surface plasmons were excited by an electron beam near a grating milled in the gold. The spectra of out-coupled radiation reveal increasingly strong propagation losses as surface plasmon energy increases above 2.8 eV, but little effect in the range 1.6-2.8 eV. These results are in partial agreement with theoretical expectations. © 2008 Materials Research Society