Surface multiplasmonics for optical sensing

摘要

Multiple surface plasmon-polariton (SPP)-wave modes can be guided by the interface of a metal and a chiral sculptured thin film (STF). Theory predicts that the angular locations of SPP-wave modes will be shifted if the void regions of the chiral STF are infiltrated with a liquid. Therefore, chiral STFs of lanthanum fluoride were fabricated and employed as a partnering dielectric material to an aluminum thin film to guide multiple SPP-wave modes. The SPP-wave modes shifted to higher angular locations when the refractive index of the infiltrant was increased, exhibiting sensitivity comparable to state-of-research values. Thereby, surface multiplasmonics was exploited for optical sensing.