Introduction to Surface Plasmon Theory

Jean-Jacques Greffet (1)

1 Laboratoire Charles Fabry / Naphel

This chapter is an introduction to the surface plasmon theory. We start with the solid-state point of view with emphasis on the concept of polariton and the limits of the Drude model. The concept of electromagnetic surface wave is then introduced in a general framework. Three particular cases are then discussed: the surface plasmon, the surface phonon polariton and the Sommerfeld surface wave. The key properties of surface plasmons for optics are discussed in general terms, with special emphasis on the concepts of field confinment and local density of states. The differences between the dispersion relations of surface waves in the presence of losses are analysed and their significance is explained. Finally, an equivalent of the Huygens–Fresnel principle is derived for the surface plasmon polaritons.

Mots clés: Dielectric Constant; Dispersion Relation; Surface Wave; Surface Plasmon Polaritons; Charge Density Wave

Domaines: Optique [physics.optics]

Jean-Jacques Greffet. Introduction to Surface Plasmon Theory. Plasmonics, pp.105-148, 2012, ⟨10.1007/978-3-642-28079-5_4⟩. ⟨hal-00576088⟩