Introductory Theory for Surface Electromagnetic Wave Spectroscopy

Abstract

In the Infrared Surface Electromagnetic Waves (SEW) Can Propagate Several Centimeters over a Metal and Some Ferroelectrics. Therefore SEW Can Be Used to Integrate overlayer Surface Absorption over Very Much Larger Path Lengths Than in the Usual Transmission and Reflection Surface Studies. using a Continuum Model, We Have Calculated the Surface Electromagnetic Wave Modes for a Dielectric Slab on a Metal Against a Third (Weakly Absorbing) Medium. Unlike Previous Treatments, Absorption Has Been Included and the Absorption Expected using the Two Prism SEW Technique Has Been Calculated. for a Thick Slab (1 Mm or More), We Show that the Absorption Coefficient of the Slab Material Can Be Obtained Very Simply. for Very Thin Slabs Both Surface-Plasmon-Like Modes and Surface-Phonon-Like Modes (Including Fuchs-Kliewer Modes) Are Found. a New Parameter Δ1 + IΔ2 is Introduced to Describe the Thin Film Absorption. It Has the Physical Significance of an Effective Susceptibility for the Metal-Coating-Overlayer System. Further, its Experimental Significance is that for the Normalized Transmission of SEW between Two Prisms, Δ2 is a Dominating Parameter Which Can Be Measured. for the Two Prism Experiments, Numerical Examples Show 50 Percent Absorption at Peak for a Monolayer of CO on Pt and a 4 Percent Absorption for CuO on Copper. Applications to the Study of Thin Films, Catalysis, Corrosion and Other Surface Problems Are Anticipated. © 1975.

Department(s)

Physics

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0039-6028

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2023 Elsevier, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Mar 1975

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