Radiative and non-radiative local density of states on disordered plasmonic films

TL;DR

This paper numerically investigates the local density of optical states near disordered plasmonic films, revealing dominant non-radiative channels at short distances and distinct spatial fluctuations in radiative and non-radiative LDOS.

Contribution

It introduces a numerical integral volume method that distinguishes radiative and non-radiative LDOS contributions in disordered plasmonic films.

Findings

Non-radiative LDOS dominates at short distances.

Radiative and non-radiative LDOS show different spatial patterns.

Significant fluctuations observed in both LDOS types.

Abstract

We present numerical calculations of the Local Density of Optical States (LDOS) in the near field of disordered plasmonic films. The calculations are based on an integral volume method, that takes into account polarization and retardation effects, and allows us to discriminate radiative and non-radiative contributions to the LDOS. At short distance, the LDOS is dominated by non-radiative channels, showing that changes in the spontaneous dynamics of dipole emitters are driven by non-radiative coupling to plasmon modes. Maps of radiative and non-radiative LDOS exhibit strong fluctuations, but with substantially different spatial distributions.