Paper
30 April 1981 Surface Plasmon Spectroscopy For The Optical Characterization Of Thin Metal Films And Their Surfaces
Joseph G. Gordon II
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Abstract
Surface plasmons are surface electromagnetic waves. That is, they are travelling waves whose electric and magnetic fields are localized at the interface between a metal and a dielectric. Their propagation characteristics (dispersion) are functions of the optical properties of both the metal and the medium in contact with it. Since they are localized at the interface, they are also sensitive to thin films on the metal surface. Quantitative measurement of surface plasmon resonances can thus yield the optical constants of any one of these three regions. For instance, we can determine the thickness and the dielectric constant (real and imaginary parts) of metal films less than 70 nanometers thick; measure the thickness or refractive index of organic coatings in the 1 to 30 nanometer range; observe the orientation of molecules near a surface in a liquid crystal cell; detect submonolayer adsorption of ionic species from an electrolyte solution. While both prism and grating coupling can be used to excite surface plasmons, we will describe the prism coupling or attenuated total reflection method we commonly use and discuss the sensitivity and range of applicability of the technique.
© (1981) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Joseph G. Gordon II "Surface Plasmon Spectroscopy For The Optical Characterization Of Thin Metal Films And Their Surfaces", Proc. SPIE 0276, Optical Characterization Techniques for Semiconductor Technology, (30 April 1981); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.931692
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KEYWORDS
Metals

Surface plasmons

Liquid crystals

Reflectivity

Prisms

Dielectrics

Interfaces

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