Open AccessSurface plasmon drag effect in a dielectrically modulated metallic thin film
Author(s) -
Hiroyuki Kurosawa,
Teruya Ishihara
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.20.001561
Subject(s) - surface plasmon , surface plasmon polariton , drag , plasmon , optics , materials science , scattering , electron , grating , dissipative system , dielectric , condensed matter physics , thin film , localized surface plasmon , physics , optoelectronics , nanotechnology , mechanics , quantum mechanics
We have experimentally and numerically investigated photo-induced voltage (PIV) effect across a Au film with a dielectric grating. We observed strongly enhanced voltage when surface plasmon polariton (SPP) is excited. It was found that electrons in the Au film are driven to the propagation direction of SPP. We have numerically shown that dissipative force called as scattering force well elucidates the experimental result for the first time. It is also clarified that this effect can be attributed to the momentum transfer from SPP to free carriers in the Au film. Thus the effect we observed can be called as surface plasmon drag effect in analogy with the photon drag effect.