Abstract

Nonradiative surface plasmons¹ are collective oscillations of the conduction electrons in metals with the propagation vector parallel to the metal surface and the amplitude of oscillation decaying exponentially in the direction normal to the surface. Since the phase velocities of these oscillations are less than that of light in the ambient space, the plasmons are unable to decay by emitting the electromagnetic radiations and, hence, are termed nonradiative.

© 1981 Optical Society of America