Two-dimensional quantitative near-field phase imaging using square and hexagonal interference devices

We demonstrate the formation of the near field with non-trivial phase distribution using surface plasmon interference devices, and experimental quantitative imaging of that phase with near-field phase microscopy. The phase distribution formed with a single device can be controlled by the polarization of the external illumination and the area of the device assigned to the object wave. A comparison of the experimental data to a numerical electromagnetic model and an analytical model assigns the origin of the near-field phase to the out-of-plane electric component of surface plasmon polaritons, and also verifies the predictive power of the models. We demonstrate a formation of near-field plane waves with different propagation directions on a single device, or even simultaneously at distinct areas of a single device. Our findings open the way to the imaging and tomography of phase objects in the near field.

Keywords

interference nanostructures, near-field, phase imaging, SNOM, SPP waves

Citation

Nanophotonics. 2022, vol. 11, issue 19, p. 1-12.
https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/nanoph-2022-0215/html

Document type

Peer-reviewed

Document version

Published version

Language of document

en

Document licence

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/