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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
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Determination of the Excitation and Coupling Rates Between Light Emitters and Surface Plasmon Polaritons
Published on: July 21, 2018
Directional, Broad, and Fixed Angle Surface Plasmon Coupled Fluorescence from Iron Thin Films
Kadir Aslan1, Yongxia Zhang, Chris D Geddes
1The Institute of Fluorescence, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, 701 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202.
Summary
Iron thin films enable fixed angle surface plasmon coupled fluorescence (SPCF) for the first time. This technique demonstrates directional, p-polarized emission from various fluorophores at a consistent angle, paving the way for new optical applications.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Surface plasmon coupled fluorescence (SPCF) offers directional light emission.
- Previous SPCF studies have not utilized iron thin films.
- Controlling emission angles is crucial for advanced optical devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate fixed angle SPCF using iron thin films.
- To determine the optimal iron film thickness for SPCF.
- To experimentally verify predicted emission angles.
Main Methods:
- Fresnel calculations to determine optimal iron film thickness (15 nm).
- Prediction of minimum reflectivity angles for wavelengths 496-814 nm.
- Experimental validation using four different fluorophores (fluorescein isothiocyanate, rhodamine B, zinc phthalocyanine, IR 780 dye).
Main Results:
- Demonstrated fixed angle SPCF from 15 nm iron thin films.
- Predicted and experimentally confirmed a fixed emission angle of ~65° for SPCF.
- Observed directional, p-polarized emission from all tested fluorophores.
Conclusions:
- Iron thin films are effective for achieving fixed angle SPCF.
- The demonstrated SPCF technique is robust across a range of fluorophores and wavelengths.
- This work opens possibilities for novel photonic devices utilizing controlled light emission.
