Surface plasmons in metallic structures

TL;DR

This paper reviews the fundamental concepts of surface plasmons in metallic structures and introduces a newly predicted low-energy surface collective excitation with potential implications for photonic applications.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of surface plasmons and reports a recent theoretical prediction of a new low-energy surface collective excitation.

Findings

Review of surface plasmon fundamentals

Prediction of a new low-energy surface excitation

Implications for photonic technologies

Abstract

Since the concept of a surface collective excitation was first introduced by Ritchie, surface plasmons have played a significant role in a variety of areas of fundamental and applied research, from surface dynamics to surface-plasmon microscopy, surface-plasmon resonance technology, and a wide range of photonic applications. Here we review the basic concepts underlying the existence of surface plasmons in metallic structures, and introduce a new low-energy surface collective excitation that has been recently predicted to exist.