Creating unique polymeric particles

An acoustic surface plasmon, a new type of electron wave that exists on metal surfaces, has been proven to exist by Bogdan Diaconescu and Karsten Pohl, Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham. The acoustic plasmon can be excited with any wavelength. These plasmons have been predicted on theoretical grounds, and last year, a team concluded that they did not exist. This work proves their existence. Because this new mode with its acoustic dispersion allows light to be contained on small surface areas and in a broad frequency range, it has implications for research in nano-optics and photonics applications. Univ. of New Hampshire, www.unh.edu