Photonic surfaces for surface-plasmon polaritons

We examine the propagation of surface-plasmon polaritons on textured surfaces. Specifically, we look at how a grating surface produces a band gap in the propagation of this mode and how the band gap depends on the propagation direction of the mode. This naturally leads to a discussion of a surface profile suitable for blocking surface mode propagation in all directions. By using a diffractive-optics-based theoretical modeling approach we examine the requirements for such a surface. We then confirm these expectations experimentally by producing a surface exhibiting a band gap for surface-plasmon polariton modes in all directions in the energy range 1.91–2.00 eV.

[1]  W. Barnes,et al.  The fabrication of submicron hexagonal arrays using multiple-exposure optical interferometry , 1996, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters.

[2]  Cotter,et al.  Photonic gaps in the dispersion of surface plasmons on gratings. , 1995, Physical review. B, Condensed matter.

[3]  E. Yablonovitch,et al.  Inhibited spontaneous emission in solid-state physics and electronics. , 1987, Physical review letters.

[4]  I. Pockrand,et al.  Nonradiative decay of excited molecules near a metal surface , 1980 .

[5]  J. R. Sambles,et al.  Scattering-matrix approach to multilayer diffraction , 1995 .

[6]  Dennis G. Deppe,et al.  Spontaneous emission from a dipole in a semiconductor microcavity , 1991 .

[7]  Daniel Maystre,et al.  Multicoated gratings: a differential formalism applicable in the entire optical region , 1982 .

[8]  R. H. Ritchie,et al.  Surface-Plasmon Resonance Effect in Grating Diffraction , 1968 .

[9]  Kitson,et al.  Surface-plasmon energy gaps and photoluminescence. , 1995, Physical review. B, Condensed matter.

[10]  Kitson,et al.  Physical origin of photonic energy gaps in the propagation of surface plasmons on gratings. , 1996, Physical review. B, Condensed matter.

[11]  Michael Scalora,et al.  The photonic band edge laser: A new approach to gain enhancement , 1994 .

[12]  R. W. Christy,et al.  Optical Constants of the Noble Metals , 1972 .

[13]  Kitson,et al.  Full Photonic Band Gap for Surface Modes in the Visible. , 1996, Physical review letters.

[14]  J. Sambles,et al.  Diffraction grating characterization using multiple-wavelength excitation of surface plasmon polaritons , 1995 .

[15]  William L. Barnes,et al.  Surface profile dependence of surface plasmon band gaps on metallic gratings , 1996 .