Abstract

By quantitatively examining dispersion curves of surface plasmons along Ag, Al, Ni, and Fe films, we find that the incidence angle θ_o that produces a reflection minimum in a variety of ATR geometries is actually different from the angle θ_p that corresponds to the phase-matching condition. The difference between θ_p and θ_o is most significant in the Otto and Kretschmann geometries using metal films with large damping loss, such as Ni or Fe. In addition, we determine the angle θ_m at which maximum power density is coupled into the metal surface and show that in general the value of θ_m is also different from both θ_o and θ_p, the difference being again largest in the Otto or Kretschmann geometries. The differences between θ_o, θ_p, and θ_m are much smaller, but still detectable, in long-range surface plasmon and extended-range surface plasmon geometries. In all cases, the preferred incidence angle depends on whether one needs to optimize either the plasmon field composition or the power density in the metal.

© 1988 Optical Society of America

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