Surface Plasmons at Metal-Dielectric Interfrace

EE857 | Spring 2018 | Jang, Min Seok

EE857 Spring 2018

Lecture 3
 Wave?
• From Introduction to Electrodynamics by Griffiths:
“A wave is a disturbance of a continuous medium that
propagates with a fixed shape at constant velocity.”
EE857 | Spring 2018 | Jang, Min Seok

Image by Chuck Moidel

𝑓 𝑥, 𝑡 = 𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑣𝑡, 0 = 𝑔(𝑥 − 𝑣𝑡)

2
 Wave Equation
• Wave equation:
𝜕2𝑓 1 𝜕2𝑓
2
= 2 2
𝜕𝑥 𝑣 𝜕𝑡

• General solution:

𝑓 𝑥, 𝑡 = 𝑔 𝑥 − 𝑣𝑡 + ℎ 𝑥 + 𝑣𝑡

𝑔 𝑥 − 𝑣𝑡 is the wave propagating in +𝑥 direction

EE857 | Spring 2018 | Jang, Min Seok

ℎ(𝑥 + 𝑣𝑡) is the wave propagating in −𝑥 direction

• 3D wave equation:
2
2
1 𝜕 𝑓
𝛻 𝑓= 2 2
𝑣 𝜕𝑡
3
 Example: Sinusoidal Waves
𝜔
𝑓 𝑥, 𝑡 = 𝐴0 sin(𝑘𝑥 − 𝜔𝑡) = 𝐴0 sin 𝑘 𝑥 − 𝑡
𝑘

• Amplitude: 𝐴0

2𝜋
• Wavenumber: 𝑘 = 𝑓
𝜆
𝐴0
2𝜋
• Frequency: 𝜔 =
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𝑘𝑥, 𝜔𝑡
𝜔
• Phase velocity: 𝑣 =
𝑘

4
 Phase Velocity vs Group Velocity
• Two sinusoidal waves with different 𝑘 and 𝜔:
𝑓1 𝑥, 𝑡 = 𝐴0 sin 𝑘1 𝑥 − 𝜔1 𝑡
𝑓2 (𝑥, 𝑡) = 𝐴0 sin(𝑘2 𝑥 − 𝜔2 𝑡)

• Superposition of the two waves:

𝑓1 𝑥, 𝑡 + 𝑓2 𝑥, 𝑡
= 𝐴0 sin 𝑘1 𝑥 − 𝜔1 𝑡 + sin 𝑘2 𝑥 − 𝜔2 𝑡
𝑘1 − 𝑘2 𝜔1 − 𝜔2
= 2𝐴0 cos 𝑥− 𝑡
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2 2
𝑘1 + 𝑘2 𝜔1 + 𝜔2
× sin 𝑥− 𝑡
2 2
Δ𝑘 Δ𝜔
= 2𝐴0 cos 𝑥− 𝑡 sin 𝑘ത 𝑥 − 𝜔𝑡
ഥ
2 2
5
 Phase Velocity vs Group Velocity
Δ𝑘 Δ𝜔
𝑓1 𝑥, 𝑡 + 𝑓2 𝑥, 𝑡 = 2𝐴0 cos 𝑥− 𝑡 sin 𝑘ത 𝑥 − 𝜔𝑡
ഥ
2 2
Oscillation
Envelope
• Fixed phase point moves with speed 𝑣ph = 𝜔/ ത
ഥ 𝑘.

• Envelope moves with speed 𝑣g = Δ𝜔/Δ𝑘.

• By taking the limit Δ𝑘 → 0, the phase velocity and the group velocity
at a specific frequency are defined as
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𝜔 𝜕𝜔
𝑣ph = , 𝑣𝑔 =
𝑘 𝜕𝑘
• Examples:
𝑣ph = 2𝑣𝑔 ↓ 𝑣ph < 0, 𝑣𝑔 > 0 →

Wikipedia
6
 Dispersion Relation
• Dispersion relation relates the wavenumber(𝑘) of a wave to its
frequency (𝜔).
• Linear dispersion (ex. electromagnetic waves in vacuum):
𝜔 = 𝑐𝑘
𝑣𝑔 = 𝑐 = 𝑣ph
Velocity does not depend on 𝜔
• Quadratic dispersion (ex. nonrelativistic De Broglie waves):
𝜔 = 𝑐𝑘 2
𝜕𝜔
𝑣𝑔 = = 2𝑐𝑘 = 2 𝑐𝜔 = 2𝑣ph
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𝜕𝑘
• Square-root dispersion (ex. deep water waves):
𝜔=𝑐 𝑘
𝜕𝜔 𝑐 𝑐2 𝑣ph
𝑣𝑔 = = = =
𝜕𝑘 2 𝑘 2𝜔 2
7
 Dispersion Relation
• Negative group velocity is also possible. For example,
𝑐 𝑐 𝜔2 𝑐
if 𝜔 = , then 𝑣𝑝ℎ = = > 0 and 𝑣𝑔 = − = −𝑣ph < 0.
𝑘 𝑘2 𝑐 𝑘2

𝑘2 𝑘
𝑘 −1

𝑘
𝜔
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𝑘
8
EE857 | Spring 2018 | Jang, Min Seok

Intro: Electromagnetic Waves

9
 EE857 | Spring 2018 | Jang, Min Seok

Intro: Atmospheric Absorption

10
 Intro: Radio Wave Frequencies (RF)
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Radar MRI Wireless Charging

(RAdio Detection And Ranging) (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

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 Intro: Microwaves
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Microwave Oven Satellite Communication Wireless Communication

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 Intro: Infrareds
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Thermal Imaging Chemical Sensing Optical Communication

13
 Intro: Visible Light

Lidar Bio Imaging

(LIght Detection And Ranging)
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Solar Cells 3D Display

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 Intro: Ultraviolet, X-rays, Gamma-rays
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Photolithography X-ray Imaging Gamma Knife 15

 Maxwell’s Equations
• Maxwell’s equations with 𝜌ext = 0 and 𝐉ext = 0:
𝛻⋅𝐃=0
𝛻⋅𝐁=0
𝜕𝐁
𝛻×𝐄=−
𝜕𝑡
𝜕𝐃
𝛻×𝐇=
𝜕𝑡
• For most materials, 𝜇 = 1 at high frequency.
• Using vector identities:
𝛻 × 𝛻 × 𝐄 = 𝛻 𝛻 ⋅ 𝐄 − 𝛻 2𝐄
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𝛻 ⋅ 𝜖𝐄 = 𝐄 ⋅ 𝛻𝜖 + 𝜖𝛻 ⋅ 𝐄 = 0

2
𝐄 2
𝜕 𝐄
𝛻 − ⋅ 𝛻𝜖 − 𝛻 𝐄 = −𝜇0 𝜖0 𝜖 2
𝜖 𝜕𝑡
16
 Electromagnetic Wave Equation
• For slowly varying 𝜖(𝐫) (i.e., 𝜖(𝐫) is nearly constant over
distances on the order of optical wavelength),

2
2
𝜖 𝜕 𝐄
𝛻 𝐄= 2 2
𝑐 𝜕𝑡

where 𝑐 = 1/ 𝜇0 𝜖0 is the speed of light in vacuum.

• Similarly,
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2𝐇
𝜖 𝜕
𝛻2𝐇 = 2 2
𝑐 𝜕𝑡

17
 Monochromatic Plane Waves
• Monochromatic plane waves propagating along 𝐤:

𝐄 = 𝐄0 𝑒 𝑖(𝐤⋅𝐫−𝜔𝑡)
𝐇 = 𝐇0 𝑒 𝑖(𝐤⋅𝐫−𝜔𝑡)

where 𝐄0 and 𝐇0 are constants. Wikipedia

• Substituting the above solutions to the electromagnetic wave

equations, we get the dispersion relation of the plane wave
EE857 | Spring 2018 | Jang, Min Seok

𝜔 2 𝑛
𝐤 2 =𝜖 →𝑘= 𝜔
𝑐 𝑐

𝑘 = 𝐤 = 2𝜋/𝜆: wavenumber
𝑛 = 𝜖: refractive index
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 Properties of Plane Waves
• From Maxwell’s equations (for isotropic and homogeneous 𝜖),
𝛻⋅𝐃=0↔𝐤⋅𝐄=0
𝛻⋅𝐁=0↔𝐤⋅𝐇=0
𝜕𝐁
𝛻×𝐄=− ↔ 𝐤 × 𝐄 = 𝜔𝜇0 𝐇
𝜕𝑡
𝜕𝐃
𝛻×𝐇= ↔ 𝐤 × 𝐇 = −𝜔𝜖0 𝜖𝐄
𝜕𝑡
• Direction of 𝐄 and 𝐇 fields are perpendicular to 𝐤
• 𝐄 and 𝐇 fields are perpendicular to each other
EE857 | Spring 2018 | Jang, Min Seok

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 Properties of Plane Waves
• Poynting’s theorem:
𝜕𝑢
− =𝛻⋅𝓢+𝐉⋅𝐄
𝜕𝑡
Energy Rate of work done
Rate of
flux (0 for lossless media)
energy
transfer
• Energy density (lossless and non-dispersive media)*:
1 1 2
1
𝑢 = 𝐄⋅𝐃+𝐁⋅𝐇 = 𝜖𝜖0 𝐄 + (𝐤 × 𝐄) ⋅ 𝐇
2 2 𝜔
1 1
= 𝜖𝜖0 𝐄 − (𝐤 × 𝐇) ⋅ 𝐄 = 𝜖𝜖0 𝐄 2
2
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2 𝜔
• Poynting vector:
𝐄 × (𝐤 × 𝐄) 𝐄 𝟐𝐤 − 𝐄 ⋅ 𝐤 𝐄 𝐄 𝟐𝐤 𝑐
𝓢 =𝐄×𝐇= = = = መ
𝑢𝐤
𝜔𝜇0 𝜔𝜇0 𝜔𝜇0 𝑛

* For dissipative and dispersive media, the expression for 𝑢 should be modified.
20
 Electromagnetic Power Flow
• Time derivative of electromagnetic energy density 𝑤
𝜕𝑢 1 𝜕 𝜕𝐃 𝜕𝐁 𝐃 = 𝜖𝐄
= 𝐄⋅𝐃+𝐇⋅𝐁 =𝐄⋅ +𝐇⋅ 𝑩 = 𝜇𝐇
𝜕𝑡 2 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑡
= 𝐄 ⋅ (𝛻 × 𝐇 − 𝜎𝐄) + 𝐇 ⋅ (−𝛻 × 𝐄) Ampere’s law and Faraday’s law

= −𝜎𝐸 2 + 𝐄 ⋅ 𝛻 × 𝐇 − 𝐇 ⋅ (𝛻 × 𝐄)
= −𝜎𝐸 2 − 𝛻 ⋅ (𝐄 × 𝐇)
Poynting vector:
= −𝜎𝐸 2 − 𝛻 ⋅ 𝓢 𝓢=𝐄×𝐇

• Poynting’s theorem:
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𝜕𝑢 Divergence
− = 𝜎𝐸 2 + 𝛻 ⋅ 𝓢
𝜕𝑡 theorem

𝜕
− න 𝑢 𝑑𝑣 = න 𝜎𝐸 2 𝑑𝑣 + ර 𝓢 ⋅ 𝑑𝐒
𝜕𝑡 𝑣 𝑣 𝑆
Rate of decrease Ohmic power Net outward
in stored energy dissipated power flux
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 Electromagnetic Power Flow
• Time-average Poynting vector:
1 𝑇 1 2𝜋
𝓢 = න 𝓢𝑑𝑡 = Re 𝐄 𝐫 × 𝐇 ∗ 𝐫 𝑇=
𝑇 0 2 𝜔
Proof:
𝓢 𝐫, 𝑡 = 𝐄 𝐫, 𝑡 × 𝐇 𝐫, 𝑡 = Re{𝐄 𝐫 𝑒 −𝑖𝜔𝑡 } × Re{𝐇 𝐫 𝑒 −𝑖𝜔𝑡 }
1 1
= 𝐄 𝐫 𝑒 −𝑖𝜔𝑡 + 𝐄 ∗ 𝐫 𝑒 𝑖𝜔𝑡 × 𝐇 𝐫 𝑒 −𝑖𝜔𝑡 + 𝐇 ∗ 𝐫 𝑒 𝑖𝜔𝑡
2 2
1
= 𝐄 𝐫 × 𝐇∗ 𝐫 + 𝐄 ∗ 𝐫 × 𝐇 𝐫 + 𝐄 𝐫 × 𝐇 𝐫 𝑒 −2𝑖𝜔𝑡 + 𝐄 ∗ 𝐫 × 𝐇 ∗ 𝐫 𝑒 2𝑖𝜔𝑡
4
1 1
= Re 𝐄 𝐫 × 𝐇 ∗ 𝐫 + Re 𝐄 𝐫 × 𝐇 𝐫 𝑒 −2𝑖𝜔𝑡
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2 2
1 𝑇1 1 1
𝓢 = න Re 𝐄 𝐫 × 𝐇 ∗ 𝐫 + Re 𝐄 𝐫 × 𝐇 𝐫 𝑒 −2𝑖𝜔𝑡 𝑑𝑡 = Re 𝐄 𝐫 × 𝐇 ∗ 𝐫
𝑇 0 2 2 2
• Total time-average power crossing a surface 𝑆:
𝓢 : time averaged Poynting vector
𝑃 = න 𝓢 ⋅ 𝑑𝐒
𝑆 𝑑𝐒: difference surface element
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 Dispersion Relations
• Free space (𝜖 = 1):
𝜖
𝑘= 𝜔 → 𝜔 = 𝑐𝑘
𝑐
• Silica (𝜖 ≈ 2):
𝜖
𝑘= 𝜔 → 𝜔 ≈ 0.7𝑐𝑘
𝑐
2
𝜔𝑝
• Metal (𝜖(𝜔) ≈ 1 − ):
𝜔2

𝜔 𝜔𝑝2
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𝑘= 1 − 2 → 𝜔2 = 𝜔𝑝2 + 𝑐 2 𝑘 2
𝑐 𝜔
- Slow group velocity 𝑣𝑔 < 𝑐
- Long wavelength 𝑘 > 𝑘0
- Asymptotically approaches to light line as 𝜔 → ∞

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 Dispersion Relations
Metal
𝜔2 ≈ 𝜔𝑝2 + 𝑐𝑘 2
Air
𝜔 = 𝑐𝑘

𝜔
𝜔𝑝 SiO2
𝜔 ≈ 0.7𝑐𝑘
*the dielectric function
of silica is assumed to
EE857 | Spring 2018 | Jang, Min Seok

be non-dispersive.

𝑐
𝑘
𝜔𝑝
24
 Bound Waves at Metal-Dielectric Interface

𝜖𝑑 > 0

𝜔𝑝2
𝜖𝑚 =1− 2
𝜔
• Wave solution:
𝐄 𝐄0 𝑖(𝑘 𝑥+𝑘 𝑦+𝑘 𝑧−𝜔𝑡) 2 𝜔 2
= 𝑒 𝑥 𝑦 𝑧 , 𝑘𝑥 + 𝑘𝑦2 + 𝑘𝑧2 = 𝜖
𝐇 𝐇0 𝑐
• Propagation along 𝑥 direction with propagation constant 𝑘𝑥 = 𝛽
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• No spatial variation in 𝑦 direction: 𝑘𝑦 = 0

• Electromagnetic field confined to the interface (exponential
decay in the perpendicular 𝑧 direction):
𝑘1 𝑧 = −𝑖𝛾1 (metal)
𝑘2 𝑧 = 𝑖𝛾2 (dielectric)
25
 Bound Waves at Metal-Dielectric Interface
• Field profile:
Metal Dielectric
2𝜋
𝛽
𝑒 𝛾1𝑧 𝑒 −𝛾2𝑧

𝑥 𝑦 𝑧
• Bound waves have longer wavevector (shorter wavelength)
EE857 | Spring 2018 | Jang, Min Seok

compared to free waves.

𝜔 2 2
𝜔 2
2
𝛽 = 𝜖𝑚 + 𝛾1 = 𝜖𝑑 + 𝛾22
𝑐 𝑐
>0
Wavevector of free waves
propagating in a dielectric
media with 𝜖 = 𝜖𝑑
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 Bound Waves at Metal-Dielectric Interface
𝜕𝐁 𝜕𝐃 𝜕
• From 𝛻 × 𝐄 = − , 𝛻×𝐇= , and = −𝑖𝜔,
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑡
𝜕𝐸𝑧 𝜕𝐸𝑦 𝜕𝐻𝑧 𝜕𝐻𝑦
− = 𝑖𝜔𝜇0 𝐻𝑥 − = −𝑖𝜔𝜖0 𝜖𝐸𝑥
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝜕𝐸𝑥 𝜕𝐸𝑧 𝜕𝐻𝑥 𝜕𝐻𝑧
− = 𝑖𝜔𝜇0 𝐻𝑦 − = −𝑖𝜔𝜖0 𝜖𝐸𝑦
𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝐸𝑦 𝜕𝐸𝑥 𝜕𝐻𝑦 𝜕𝐻𝑥
− = 𝑖𝜔𝜇0 𝐻𝑧 − = −𝑖𝜔𝜖0 𝜖𝐸𝑧
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
𝜕 𝜕
• Propagation along 𝑥( = 𝑖𝛽), and homogeneity in 𝑦 ( = 0)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
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𝜕𝐸𝑦 𝜕𝐻𝑦
= −𝑖𝜔𝜇0 𝐻𝑥 = 𝑖𝜔𝜖0 𝜖𝐸𝑥
𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧
𝜕𝐸𝑥 𝜕𝐻𝑥
− 𝑖𝛽𝐸𝑧 = 𝑖𝜔𝜇0 𝐻𝑦 − 𝑖𝛽𝐻𝑧 = −𝑖𝜔𝜖0 𝜖𝐸𝑦
𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧
𝑖𝛽𝐸𝑦 = 𝑖𝜔𝜇0 𝐻𝑧 𝑖𝛽𝐻𝑦 = −𝑖𝜔𝜖0 𝜖𝐸𝑧

27
 TE Modes?
• Transverse electric (TE) polarization (𝐸𝑥 = 0):
1 𝜕𝐸𝑦
𝐻𝑥 = 𝑖
𝜔𝜇0 𝜕𝑧
𝛽
𝐻𝑧 = 𝐸𝑦
𝜔𝜇0
• Ansatz:
𝐴1 𝑒 𝛾1𝑧 𝑒 𝑖(𝛽𝑥−𝜔𝑡) (𝑧 < 0)
𝐸𝑦 = ൝
𝐴2 𝑒 −𝛾2 𝑧 𝑒 𝑖(𝛽𝑥−𝜔𝑡) (𝑧 > 0)
• Boundary conditions (𝑧 = 0):
EE857 | Spring 2018 | Jang, Min Seok

(𝐸1 )𝑦 = 𝐸2 𝑦 and 𝐵1 𝑥 = 𝐵2 𝑥
→ 𝐴1 = 𝐴2 and 𝛾1 = −𝛾2
• No surface wave, since confinement to the surface requires
Re 𝛾1 > 0 and Re 𝛾2 > 0.

28
 Surface Plasmons at a Single Interface
• Transverse magnetic (TM) polarization (𝐻𝑥 = 0):
1 𝜕𝐻𝑦
𝐸𝑥 = −𝑖
𝜔𝜖0 𝜖 𝜕𝑧
𝛽
𝐸𝑧 = − 𝐻𝑦
𝜔𝜖0 𝜖
• Ansatz:
𝐴1 𝑒 𝛾1𝑧 𝑒 𝑖(𝛽𝑥−𝜔𝑡) (𝑧 < 0)
𝐻𝑦 = ൝
𝐴2 𝑒 −𝛾2 𝑧 𝑒 𝑖(𝛽𝑥−𝜔𝑡) (𝑧 > 0)
• Boundary conditions (𝑧 = 0):
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(𝐻1 )𝑦 = 𝐻2 𝑦 and 𝐸1 𝑥 = 𝐸2 𝑥
• Therefore,
𝛾2 𝜖𝑑
𝐴1 = 𝐴2 and =−
𝛾1 𝜖𝑚

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 Surface Plasmons at a Single Interface
𝛾2 𝜖𝑑
=−
𝛾1 𝜖𝑚
• Surface waves exist only at interfaces between materials with
opposite signs of the real part of their dielectric permittivities.
𝜔 2
• From wave equations, 𝑘𝑥2 + 𝑘𝑦2 + 𝑘𝑧2 =𝜖
𝑐
𝜔2
𝛾𝑖2 = 𝛽2 − 𝜖𝑖 (𝑖 = 1, 2)
𝑐2
• Combining all, we get the dispersion relation of surface
EE857 | Spring 2018 | Jang, Min Seok

plasmon polaritons or, in short, surface plasmons.

𝜔 𝜖𝑑 𝜖𝑚
𝛽=
𝑐 𝜖𝑑 + 𝜖𝑚

30
 Dispersion Relation
Air
𝜔 = 𝑐𝑘

𝜔 Im 𝑘 𝜔𝑝
𝜔𝑠𝑝 =
𝜔𝑝 1 + 𝜖𝑑
Re 𝑘
EE857 | Spring 2018 | Jang, Min Seok

𝑘(𝑐/𝜔𝑝 )
• SPPs are smaller than free space light (has shorter wavelength)
• SPPs are slower than free space light.
• At low frequencies, SPP dispersion approaches to light line.
• At 𝜔𝑠𝑝 , SPP has zero group velocity and infinite wavenumber.
31
 Why Slow?

Wikipedia

• Time averaged energy flow along surface parallel direction:

𝛽
𝑆𝑥 = 𝐄 × 𝐇 𝑥 = − 𝐸𝑧 𝐻𝑦 = 𝐻𝑦2
𝜔𝜖0 𝜖
EE857 | Spring 2018 | Jang, Min Seok

𝐇 = (0, 𝐻𝑦 , 0)

• 𝜖𝑑 > 0 and 𝜖𝑚 < 0 → 𝑆1𝑥 < 0 and 𝑆2𝑥 > 0

Electromagnetic waves in each medium try to convey energy in
opposite direction.
• Therefore, the overall energy transfer is slow.
32
 Properties of Surface Plasmons
• For 𝜔 → 0:
𝜔𝑝2 Field profile
ϵ𝑚 𝜔 = 1 − 2 → −∞ Dielectric
𝜔
𝜔 2
𝛾1 = 𝛽2 − 𝜖𝑚 2 ≫ 𝑘0
𝑐
𝛾2 𝜖𝑑
=− →0 𝛾1 ≫ 𝛾2
𝛾1 𝜖𝑚
Metal
𝜔2 𝜔
𝛽= 𝜖𝑑 + 𝛾22 → 𝑛𝑑
EE857 | Spring 2018 | Jang, Min Seok

𝑐2 𝑐
Weakly bound: metal strongly repels electromagnetic field and
the wave extend over many wavelengths into the dielectric
space.
→ SPPs behave like free waves.
33
 Properties of Surface Plasmons
𝜔𝑝
• For 𝜔 → 𝜔sp = :
1+𝜖𝑑
𝜖𝑚 𝜔 → −𝜖𝑑
𝛽
S1𝑥 = 𝐻𝑦2 → − S2𝑥
𝜔𝜖0 𝜖𝑚
Energy flow in each medium cancels out each other.
→ Zero energy velocity. For lossless medium, group velocity and
energy velocity are equal.*

𝜔 𝜖𝑑 𝜖𝑚 𝜔 2
→ ∞, 𝛾𝑖2 = 𝛽2 − 𝜖𝑖 2 → ∞
EE857 | Spring 2018 | Jang, Min Seok

𝛽=
𝑐 𝜖𝑑 + 𝜖𝑚 𝑐

Infinitesimal wavelength and extreme field confinement in

transverse direction.

*For more details, see M. A. Biot, Phys. Rev. 105, 1129 (1957). 34
 Bulk vs Surface Plasmons
Bulk Plasmon Surface Plasmon

• Condition: • Condition:
𝜖𝑚 𝜔 = 0 𝜖𝑚 𝜔 + 𝜖𝑑 = 0
EE857 | Spring 2018 | Jang, Min Seok

• Bulk plasma frequency: • Surface plasma frequency:

𝜔𝑝 property of metal
𝑛𝑒 2 𝜔sp =
𝜔𝑝 = 1 + 𝜖𝑑
𝑚𝜖0
property of dielectric

35
 Metal with Damping

• Up to this point, we assumed that the metal is lossless

(Im 𝜖𝑚 = 0). However, there is no such material in real
world.

• What would happen if the metal is lossy (Im 𝜖𝑚 ≠ 0)?

• Can SPPs still have 𝛽 → ∞ (𝜆 → 0)?

EE857 | Spring 2018 | Jang, Min Seok

• How far a SPP can propagate before being dissipated?

36
 Metal with Damping
Lossless Lossy
Air (𝛾 = 0) (𝛾/𝜔𝑝 = 0.05)
𝜔 = 𝑐𝑘
Im 𝑘
𝜔
𝜔𝑝 Re 𝑘

𝜔𝑝2
𝜖𝑚 𝜔 =1− 2
𝜔 + 𝑖𝛾𝜔

𝑘(𝑐/𝜔𝑝 ) 𝑘(𝑐/𝜔𝑝 )
EE857 | Spring 2018 | Jang, Min Seok

• SPPs have a finite maximum wave vector.

• Wavelength and effective mode length have lower bound.
• Propagation distance is also finite and decreases as 𝜔 → 𝜔sp .
• Trade-off: Propagation↑ then Confinement ↓ (and vice versa)
37
 Surface Plasmons at Silver Surface
EE857 | Spring 2018 | Jang, Min Seok

• At 𝜆0 = 450 nm, 𝐿 ≈ 16 μm and 𝑧Ƹ = 1/ 𝛾 ≈ 180 nm.

• At 𝜆0 = 1.5 μm, 𝐿 ≈ 1080 μm and 𝑧Ƹ = 1/ 𝛾 ≈ 2.6 μm.
*Ag permittivity is adopted from Johnson and Christy, Phys. Rev. B 6, 4370 (1972). 38
 Surface Plasmons – Noble Metals
• Silver

• Gold
EE857 | Spring 2018 | Jang, Min Seok

• Copper

*Seok Ho Song, Lecture notes 39