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Surface Plasmon Excitation: Theory, Configurations, and Applications

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Abstract

This review presents the theory, configurations, and various applications of plasmonics in a variety of surface plasmon–based devices. It describes how light waves travel along the surface where metals and dielectrics meet, revealing the detailed reasons behind the phenomenon. Here, we have used the well-known Drude optical model, a widely accepted theoretical approach, to figure out how different materials behave by considering atoms as tiny vibrating dipoles. In this review, we have thoroughly looked at many aspects, all wrapped up in the concept of complex dielectric functions. We used Maxwell’s equations customized for simple, non-magnetic materials to derive the above mentioned model, with the goal of helping to better grasp how surface plasmon polaritons are generated. In this research, we have organized the conditions needed for momentum matching by applying particular boundary conditions. Along with, we presented different techniques required for the generation of surface plasmon polaritons. We studied how metal and dielectric materials work together, by making comparisons to different optical devices along the way. Our main focus on the subject highlights the significant possibilities that this theory and research offers to various plasmonic applications.

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Data Availability

The data and information that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of the Punjab, Lahore, 54590, Pakistan

    Muhammad Aftab

  2. Department of Physics, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, 50700, Pakistan

    M. Salim Mansha, Tahir Iqbal & Muhammad Farooq

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  1. Muhammad Aftab
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  2. M. Salim Mansha
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Contributions

The authors M. Aftab and Tahir Iqbal made equal contributions in editing, collecting, arranging, analyzing data, information, and findings. M. Salim Mansha and M. Farooq assisted in revision of the article and incorporated additional applications related to the subject.

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Correspondence to Muhammad Aftab.

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Aftab, M., Mansha, M.S., Iqbal, T. et al. Surface Plasmon Excitation: Theory, Configurations, and Applications. Plasmonics (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11468-023-02095-2

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