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Updated: May 17, 2026

Determination of the Excitation and Coupling Rates Between Light Emitters and Surface Plasmon Polaritons
Published on: July 21, 2018
Plasmon-mediated vectorial topological dipole: formation and annihilation
Shankar Pidishety1, Vijay Kumar, Nirmal K Viswanathan
1School of Physics, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India.
Scientists created and destroyed vectorial topological dipoles on metal surfaces using special light. This phenomenon, driven by plasmons, was confirmed by experimental verification of the threshold polarization ellipticity.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Plasmonics
- Optical Physics
Background:
- Plasmon resonance in metal surfaces enables unique light-matter interactions.
- Vectorial topological dipoles are exotic phenomena with potential applications.
- Controlling light polarization is key to manipulating surface phenomena.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the formation and annihilation of vectorial topological dipoles.
- To explore the role of plasmons in structure-free metal surfaces.
- To utilize a polarization singular optical beam for dipole manipulation.
Main Methods:
- Employing a polarization singular optical beam incident on metal surfaces.
- Analyzing the far-field behavior resulting from light-surface interactions.
- Measuring reflection coefficients and phase shifts around plasmon resonance.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated the formation and annihilation of vectorial topological dipoles.
- Observed phenomena attributed to strong angular and polarization dependence of reflection.
- Experimentally verified the predicted threshold polarization ellipticity (σth) for dipole formation.
Conclusions:
- Vectorial topological dipoles can be mediated by plasmons on structure-free metal surfaces.
- The observed behavior is governed by the interplay of light polarization and plasmon resonance.
- Experimental results confirm theoretical predictions for dipole formation thresholds.
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