Open AccessRayleigh scattering of surface plasmons by sub-wavelength holes
Author(s) -
Frerik van Beijnum,
Anne S. Meeussen,
C. Rétif,
M. P. van Exter
Publication year - 2014
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.22.010317
Subject(s) - rayleigh scattering , scattering , optics , surface plasmon , wavelength , plasmon , light scattering , physics , speckle pattern , materials science
We study the scattering of surface plasmons from sub-wavelength holes and find that it exhibits a stronger wavelength dependence than the traditional λ(-4) scaling found for Rayleigh scattering of light from small particles. This experimental observation is consistent with recent theoretical work and linked to the two-dimensional nature of the surface plasmon and the wavelength dependence of its spatial extent in the third dimension. The scattering cross sections are obtained with a frequency-correlation technique, which compares intensity speckle patterns observed behind various random structures of holes and recorded at different wavelengths. This powerful technique even allows us to distinguish between scattering of surface plasmons into photons and scattering into other surface plasmons.