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Determination of the Excitation and Coupling Rates Between Light Emitters and Surface Plasmon Polaritons
Published on: July 21, 2018
Surface plasmon polariton microscope with parabolic reflectors
Aurelien Drezet1, Daniel Koller, Andreas Hohenau
1Institute of Physics and Erwin Schrödinger, Institute for Nanoscale Research, Karl-Franzens-University, Universitätsplatz 5, 8010 Graz, Austria. drezet@isis-ulp.org
Optics Letters
|August 19, 2007
Summary
We developed a novel two-dimensional optical microscope for surface plasmons polaritons (SPPs). This microscope uses parabolic Bragg mirrors to achieve sub-diffraction spatial resolution for SPP imaging.
Area of Science:
- Plasmonics
- Optical Microscopy
- Nanophotonics
Background:
- Surface plasmons polaritons (SPPs) are light-like waves confined to surfaces.
- Imaging SPPs with high spatial resolution is crucial for understanding nanoscale optical phenomena.
Purpose of the Study:
- To realize a two-dimensional optical microscope for SPPs.
- To demonstrate sub-diffraction spatial resolution in SPP imaging.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of parabolic Bragg mirrors using lithography on gold thin films.
- Direct imaging of SPPs using leakage radiation microscopy.
- Characterization of microscope magnification based on geometrical optics.
Main Results:
- Successful realization of a two-dimensional SPP microscope.
- Demonstration that magnification follows geometrical optics predictions.
- Achieved spatial resolution down to the diffraction limit.
Conclusions:
- The developed SPP microscope is a viable tool for nanoscale optical imaging.
- Parabolic Bragg mirrors are effective components for SPP manipulation and imaging.
- The system offers a pathway to probe SPP behavior with unprecedented detail.

