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Single shot embedded surface plasmon microscopy with vortex illumination.

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    This study introduces a faster method for measuring surface plasmon k-vectors using a confocal microscope. By employing a vortex beam as a reference, single-shot measurements replace multi-step phase shifting for enhanced speed.

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    Area of Science:

    • Optics and Photonics
    • Surface Science
    • Nanotechnology

    Background:

    • Confocal microscopy enables k-vector measurement of surface plasmons.
    • Previous methods used phase-stepped interferometry, limiting operational speed.
    • Spatial light modulators (SLMs) are key components in advanced optical setups.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To develop a single-shot measurement technique for surface plasmon k-vector determination.
    • To overcome the speed limitations of traditional phase-stepped interferometry.
    • To utilize vortex beams for enhanced interferometric measurements in microscopy.

    Main Methods:

    • Implemented a confocal microscope with an SLM in the back focal plane.
    • Introduced an azimuthal phase varying between 0 and 2π to create a vortex beam reference.
    • Extracted interference signals from different portions of the reference beam for simultaneous phase reconstruction.

    Main Results:

    • The vortex beam illumination method allows for single-shot k-vector measurements.
    • This technique achieves similar results to phase-stepped methods.
    • Measurements were validated using ellipsometry and surface profilometry.

    Conclusions:

    • Single-shot k-vector measurement of surface plasmons is feasible using vortex beam illumination.
    • The developed method significantly enhances measurement speed compared to phase-stepped techniques.
    • This approach offers a faster and efficient alternative for surface plasmon characterization.