New method of SPP excitation based on metal photoluminescence

A new method of surface plasmon waves excitation based on the photoluminescence of a nanostructured metal surface is proposed. The method was demonstrated using a plasmonic crystal formed by an array of nanoholes in 200 nm thick Ag film (supporting SPP resonances) covered by a 10 nm thin Au layer (for efficient excitation of photo-induced luminescence). It was shown that using this method it is possible: (i) to excite SPP waves in ultra-large spectral range, (ii) to measure plasmonic crystal optical properties, (iii) to measure optical characteristics of the SPP waves.