Nanostructure - Mediated Launching and Detection of 2 D Surface Plasmons by Jared Day A

Nanostructure-Mediated Launching and Detection of 2D Surface Plasmons by Jared Day Au nanoparticles deposited on a metallic film act as nanoantenna receivers and transmitters for the coupling of free-space radiation into, and out of, 2D surface plasmons. Nanosteps, sub-lO-nm gaps between metallic films of differing thickness, can also launch and detect surface plasmons. In this thesis both types of structures are used to locally launch propagating surface plasmon waves and probe their properties. Nanoparticle-Iaunched surface plasmons emerge as two lobes of nominally 90 degree angular width, propagating along the direction of incident polarization. Alternatively, plasmons can be launched unidirectionally, by asymmetric illumination of a nanoparticle receiver.