Direct image of surface plasmon-coupled emission by leaky radiation microscopy

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the use of leaky radiation microscopy (LRM) to directly image surface plasmon-coupled emission (SPCE), offering advantages over traditional prism-based methods by providing direct emission angles and clearer images.

Contribution

The study introduces LRM as a superior technique for imaging SPCE and SPP propagation, revealing how sample shape influences SPCE patterns and SPP behavior.

Findings

LRM provides direct emission angles without scanning.

LRM yields clearer SPCE images than prism-based setups.

Sample shape affects SPCE pattern and SPP propagation.

Abstract

Leaky radiation microscopy (LRM) is used to directly image the surface plasmon-coupled emission (SPCE). When compared with the prism based set-up commonly used in SPCE research, LRM has the advantages of directly giving out the emitting angle without scanning and the image of generated surface plasmons polaritons (SPPs) propagation, which help to understand the optical process of SPCE. LRM also can give out clearer SPCE image than that by prism-based set-up. Based on the LRM, we find that the SPCE pattern and propagation of SPPs can be modified by the shape of samples fabricated on the thin metallic films.