The interplay between localized and propagating plasmonic excitations tracked in space and time.

In this work, the mutual coupling and coherent interaction of propagating and localized surface plasmons within a model-type plasmonic assembly is experimentally demonstrated, imaged, and analyzed. Using interferometric time-resolved photoemission electron microscopy the interplay between ultrashort surface plasmon polariton wave packets and plasmonic nanoantennas is monitored on subfemtosecond time scales. The data reveal real-time insights into dispersion and localization of electromagnetic fields as governed by the elementary modes determining the functionality of plasmonic operation units.

Measurement of surface plasmon autocorrelation functions.

In this paper we demonstrate the realization of an autocorrelator for the characterization of ultrashort surface plasmon polariton (SPP) pulses. A wedge shaped structure is used to continuously increase the time delay between two interfering SPPs. The autocorrelation signal is monitored by non-linear two-photon photoemission electron microscopy. The presented approach is applicable to other SPP sensitive detection schemes that provide only moderate spatial resolution and may therefore be of general interest in the field of ultrafast plasmonics.

Morphological tuning of the plasmon dispersion relation in dielectric-loaded nanofiber waveguides.

Understanding the impact of lateral mode confinement in plasmonic waveguides is of fundamental interest regarding potential applications in plasmonic devices. The knowledge of the frequency-wave vector dispersion relation provides the full information on electromagnetic field propagation in a waveguide. This Letter reports on the measurement of the real part of the surface plasmon polariton dispersion relation in the near infrared spectral regime for individual nanoscale plasmonic waveguides, which were formed by deposition of para-hexaphenylene (p-6P) based nanofibers on top of a gold film. A detailed structural characterization of the nanofibers provides accurate information on the dimensions of the investigated waveguides and enables us to quantify the effect of mode confinement by comparison with experimental results from continuous p-6P films and calculations based on the effective index method.

Mapping surface plasmon polariton propagation via counter-propagating light pulses.

In an interferometric time-resolved photoemission electron microscopy (ITR-PEEM) experiment, the near-field associated with surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) can be locally sensed via interference with ultrashort laser pulses. Here, we present ITR-PEEM data of SPP propagation at a gold vacuum interface recorded in a counter-propagating pump-probe geometry. In comparison to former work this approach provides a very intuitive real-time access to the SPP wave packet. The quantitative analysis of the PEEM data enables us to determine in a rather direct manner the propagation characteristics of the SPP.

Femtosecond time-resolved photoemission electron microscopy operated at sample illumination from the rear side.

We present an advanced experimental setup for time-resolved photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) with sub-20 fs resolution, which allows for normal incidence and highly local sample excitation with ultrashort laser pulses. The scheme makes use of a sample rear side illumination geometry that enables us to confine the sample illumination spot to a diameter as small as 6 µm. We demonstrate an operation mode in which the spatiotemporal dynamics following a highly local excitation of the sample is globally probed with a laser pulse illuminating the sample from the front side. Furthermore, we show that the scheme can also be operated in a time-resolved normal incidence two-photon PEEM mode with interferometric resolution, a technique providing a direct and intuitive real-time view onto the propagation of surface plasmon polaritons.