Surface Plasmon Microscopy Versus Optical Microscopy: Ez Dominates in SPM

Transmission surface plasmon resonance microscopy

Near-Field Optical Microscopy of Surface Plasmon Polaritons Nano-Optics

Near field optical microscopy techniques can be employed to characterize surface plasmon polaritons phenomena. These studies have set the stage for the current surge in the nano-optics field. In this chapter experiments and numerical developments conducted to the understanding of this area are outlined. Furthemore a scanning near-field microwave microscope is presented as an alternative techniq...

Imaging slit-coupled surface plasmon polaritons using conventional optical microscopy.

We develop a technique that now enables surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) coupled by nano-patterned slits in a metal film to be detected using conventional optical microscopy with standard objective lenses. The crux of this method is an ultra-thin polymer layer on the metal surface, whose thickness can be varied over a nanoscale range to enable controllable tuning of the SPP momentum. At an opt...

Multiphoton plasmon-resonance microscopy.

A novel method for detection of noble-metal nanoparticles by their nonlinear optical properties is presented and applied for specific labeling of cellular organelles. When illuminated by laser light in resonance with their plasmon frequency these nanoparticles generate an enhanced multiphoton signal. This enhanced signal is measured to obtain a depth-resolved image in a laser scanning microscop...

Resolution and sensitivity in surface plasmon microscopy and sensing

The use of surface plasmons on planar surfaces for the characterisation of those surfaces is analysed. In particular, analytic expressions are derived for the sensitivity of such characterisation to the variation of bulk refractive indices, and to the addition of thin dielectric layers on the plasmon supporting surface. Comparison between surface plasmon and dielectric waveguide techniques is m...