Time-resolved nonlinear surface plasmon optics

A new surface-sensitive method of time-resolved optical studies is proposed. The method consists in the independent excitation of several surface electromagnetic waves (SEW) by two laser femtosecond pulse beams with varied time delay Δτ and distance Δr between corresponding excitation regions on the surface. To fulfill the phase-matching condition for plasmon-photon coupling, metal grating is used. Due to nonlinear plasmon interaction, the optical radiation with ω1 + ω2 and 2ω1 − ω2 (where ω1, ω2 are corresponding laser beam frequencies) is generated. The intensity of this nonlinear response versus Δτ and Δr are studied. The direct measurements of the SEW temporal properties are presented. Experiments of this type are important for the development of femtosecond surface plasmon optics.