title: Surface-plasmon excitation using a polarization-preserving optical fiber and an index-matching fluid optical cell.
abstract: Existing experimental configurations to excite surface plasmons are reviewed, and a new experimental method for exciting surface plasmons is described. A transverse magnetic polarized wave is guided by a polarization-preserving optical fiber, collimated by a gradient-index lens, and launched into an optical cell filled with index-matching fluid. The wave is reflected off of a rotating mirror and excites a surface plasmon on a dielectric-metal interface by attenuated total reflection. The reflectance and incidence angles are measured simultaneously with a position-sensitive photodiode. The main advantages of this new method, compared with existing methods, are the low equipment costs and the ease with which a variety of surface-plasmon experiments can be performed.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garabedian
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knoesen
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Collins