Enhancement of spatial coherence by surface plasmons

Opt Lett. 2007 Mar 1;32(5):445-7. doi: 10.1364/ol.32.000445.

Abstract

We report on a method to generate a stationary interference pattern from two independent optical sources, each illuminating a single slit in Young's interference experiment. The pattern arises as a result of the action of surface plasmons traveling between subwavelength slits milled in a metal film. The visibility of the interference pattern can be manipulated by tuning the wavelength of one of the optical sources.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't