Regensburg 2007 – scientific programme

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O: Fachverband Oberflächenphysik

O 13: Symposium: Ultrafast Nanooptics II

O 13.10: Talk

Monday, March 26, 2007, 17:45–18:00, H38

Quasi Particles as Quantum Phenomena at Surfaces — •Dominic Zerulla, Brian Ashall, and Michael Berndt — UCD Dublin, School of Physics, Dublin 4, Ireland

Surface Plasmon Polaritons (SPP's) are mixed states between photons and electron density waves propagating along the surface of a conductor. While the principle excitation of such phenomena is well understood the focus of this talk is on the detailed properties of these quasi-particles, such as localization, lifetime, causality and re-emission characteristics. The localization of surface plasmons can be used to tailor the accompanying near- and far-fields to exhibit, for example, a strongly focused character. Furthermore we will show that SPP's are ultra fast phenomena which range typically from ps to fs time scales, while the propagation lengths in the visible are of the order of 80 micrometers. Finally, we will demonstrate the stunning coherence of the phenomenon via discussing the re-emission characteristics of SPP's which nicely underline the mixed state nature of the phenomenon.

[1] G. Isfort, K.-D. Schierbaum, D. Zerulla; Causality of Surface Plasmon Polariton Emission Processes, Phys. Rev. B, 73, 033408 (2006)

[2] G. Isfort, K. Schierbaum, D. Zerulla; Polarization Dependence of Surface Plasmon Polariton Emissions, Phys Rev. B, 74, 033404 (2006)