title: Probing large area surface plasmon interference in thin metal films using photon scanning tunneling microscopy.
abstract: The interference of surface plasmons can provide important information regarding the surface features of the hosting thin metal film. We present an investigation of the interference of optically excited surface plasmons in the Kretschmann configuration in the visible spectrum. Large area surface plasmon interference regions are generated at several wavelengths and imaged with the photon scanning tunneling microscope. Furthermore, we discuss the non-retarded dispersion relations for the surface plasmons in the probe-metal system modeled as confocal hyperboloids of revolution in the spheroidal coordinate systems.
authors.affiliation: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Bethel Valley Rd., Bldg. 4500 S, MS 6123, TN 37831-6219, USA. passian@utk.edu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Passian
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wig
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lereu
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meriaudeau
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thundat
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Ferrell