Electron emission in the near-field of surface plasmons

Plasmon-enhanced photoelectron emission in the near-field region of gold nanostructures is reported. We show that, depending on the photon energy of the excitation light, the emission from the near-field region can be markedly stronger than from the plasmonic gold itself. Photoemission micrographs a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Surface science 2013-01, Vol.607, p.148-152
Main Authors: Word, Robert C., Fitzgerald, J.P.S., Könenkamp, R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Circular polarization
Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties
Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties
Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science
rheology
Emission
Exact sciences and technology
Excitation
Gold
Nanostructure
Near-field emission
Photoemission
Photoemission microscopy
Physics
Plasmonics
Plasmons
Polarization effects
Surface plasmon polariton
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Summary:Plasmon-enhanced photoelectron emission in the near-field region of gold nanostructures is reported. We show that, depending on the photon energy of the excitation light, the emission from the near-field region can be markedly stronger than from the plasmonic gold itself. Photoemission micrographs also indicate that the spatial confinement of the near-field emission is stronger than in the gold and that the near-field emission exhibits a strong sensitivity on the linear and circular polarization state of the excitation light. The results are explained in terms of work-function differences between the near-field region and the plasmonic material and an interaction between propagating and localized surface plasmon modes. We suggest that the circular polarization sensitivity of the near-field surface plasmon modes may open the way to generate spin-polarized electrons in a plasmon-induced photoemission process. Electron emission from localized surface plasmon hot spots in the near-field of fractal gold nano-structures. [Display omitted] ► Electron emission from plasmonic fractal gold films and their vicinity. ► Plasmonic near-field electron emission ► Circular polarization sensitivity ► Circular polarization effects
ISSN:0039-6028
1879-2758
DOI:10.1016/j.susc.2012.08.026