Plasmonics and near field optics for sensing purposes

In the first part of the thesis I present a theoretical and experimental work due to develop a performing configuration for gas-sensing through the employ of Surface Plasmon Resonance effect. Different sensing layers have been studied and tested on our optical bench assembly. Metallic (Au) and bimetallic (Ag/Au) layers have been properly designed through simulations and then have been realized through electron-beam evaporation. TiO2 and TiO2 - Au doped layers have been deposited on the top of some of the metallic samples. These layers were prepared by the sol gel route. In the second part I focused on the development of an experimental set-up able to study the local field at an interface between two dielectrics. An approach based on photo-thermal-deflection has been used. Chromophores have been used as probes of the local field

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