Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026

Spectral and Angle-Resolved Magneto-Optical Characterization of Photonic Nanostructures
Published on: November 21, 2019
General properties of the surface charge pattern of one-dimensional metallic gratings
1Key Laboratory of Optical Information Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China. liuht@nankai.edu.cn
Abstract:
Under light illumination, metallic gratings present unexpected and fascinating phenomena, which are due to the complex charge patterns generated on the grating surfaces. The moving electrons are due to the launching of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), but only in part. We derive analytical expressions quantifying the plasmonic character of the surface charge patterns, i.e. the contribution of SPPs to its formation. The expressions have a general significance, in the sense that they may be applied to a variety of geometries and spectral ranges, irrespective of whether the grating absorbs, transmits, reflects, or how strongly it resonates.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Electric Field at the Surface of a Conductor
In the 19th century, Michael Faraday conducted the famous ice pail experiment to prove that the charges always reside on the surface of a conductor. The experimental set-up consists of a conducting uncharged container mounted on an insulating stand. The outer surface of the container is...
Gauss's Law: Planar Symmetry
Charge on a Conductor
Gauss's Law: Cylindrical Symmetry
Electric Field of a Charged Disk
The system's symmetry is in the cylindrical directions across the plane of the charge. As a result, the electric fields created by various surface charge elements nullify each other in the direction parallel to the surface. Thereby, the resulting electric field is perpendicular to the plane. Since the disk is...
Electric Field of Parallel Conducting Plates
Consider a cross-section of a thin, infinite conducting plate having a positive charge. For such a large thin plate, as the thickness of the plate tends to zero, the positive charges lie on the plate's two large faces. Without an external electric field, the...

