Visualizing surface plasmons with photons, photoelectrons, and electrons

El-Khoury, P.Z., Abellan, P., Gong, Y., Hage, F.S., Cottom, J., Joly, A.G., Brydson, R., Ramasse, Q.M. and Hess, W.P. (2016) Visualizing surface plasmons with photons, photoelectrons, and electrons. Analyst, 141(12), pp. 3562-3572. (doi: 10.1039/C6AN00308G) (PMID:27067797)

Abstract

Both photons and electrons may be used to excite surface plasmon polaritons, the collective charge density fluctuations at the surface of metal nanostructures. By virtue of their nanoscopic and dissipative nature, a detailed characterization of surface plasmon (SP) eigenmodes in real space-time ultimately requires joint nanometer spatial and femtosecond temporal resolution. The latter realization has driven significant developments in the past few years, aimed at interrogating both localized and propagating SP modes. In this mini-review, we briefly highlight different techniques employed by our own groups to visualize the enhanced electric fields associated with SPs. Specifically, we discuss recent hyperspectral optical microscopy, tip-enhanced Raman nano-spectroscopy, nonlinear photoemission electron microscopy, as well as correlated scanning transmission electron microscopy-electron energy loss spectroscopy measurements targeting prototypical plasmonic nanostructures and constructs. Through selected practical examples from our own laboratories, we examine the information content in multidimensional images recorded by taking advantage of each of the aforementioned techniques. In effect, we illustrate how SPs can be visualized at the ultimate limits of space and time.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: PZE was supported by the Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program through a Linus Pauling Fellowship at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), and acknowledges an allocation of computing time from the National Science Foundation (TG-CHE130003). YG, AGJ, and WPH were supported by the US Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Hage, Dr Fredrik Sydow
• Authors: El-Khoury, P.Z., Abellan, P., Gong, Y., Hage, F.S., Cottom, J., Joly, A.G., Brydson, R., Ramasse, Q.M., and Hess, W.P.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• Journal Name: Analyst
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• ISSN: 0003-2654
• ISSN (Online): 1364-5528
• Published Online: 06 April 2016
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2016 The Royal Society of Chemistry
• First Published: First published in Analyst 41(12): 3562-3572
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy