Experimental observation of plasmon–polariton waves supported by a thin metal film of finite width

Abstract

What are believed to be the first experimental observations of the existence of long-range plasmon–polariton waves, guided by a thin metal film of finite width, are presented. A waveguide composed of an $8-\mathit{\mu }\mathrm{m}$-wide, 20-nm-thick, 3.5-mm-long Au metal film embedded in ${\mathrm{SiO}}_2$ was successfully excited at a free-space wavelength of $1.55 \mathit{\mu }\mathrm{m}$ in an end-fire experiment. The theoretical nature of the phenomenon is described, and experimental observations of field confinement provided by this metal waveguide are presented in detail.

© 2000 Optical Society of America

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