Elsevier

Surface Science

Volume 137, Issue 1, 1 February 1984, Pages 373-383
Surface Science

On the decay of plasmon surface polaritons at smooth and rough Ag-air interfaces: A reflectance and photo-acoustic study

https://doi.org/10.1016/0039-6028(84)90696-4Get rights and content

Abstract

Attenuated total reflection and photoacoustic measurements have been employed to study the decay channels of plasmon surface polaritons optically excited at the Ag-air interface. We show that it is possible to analyse the radiative and non-radiative decay quantitatively by comparing measurements taken with transparent and blackened cavities, respectively. In the first case only light that is thermalized by radiationless processes in the Ag film produces a photoacoustic signal. In the blackened cell, however, light that is either transmitted through the Ag film or reemitted by the radiative decay of excited polaritons also contributes to the photoacoustic intensity.

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