Surface-plasmon excitation using a polarization-preserving optical fiber and an index-matching fluid optical cell.
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.
Richards
J D
JD
Garabedian
R
R
Gonzalez
C
C
Knoesen
A
A
Smith
R L
RL
Spencer
R
R
Collins
S D
SD