Excitation of surface plasma oscillations and their study in structures with spatially inhomogeneous boundary conditions

A study was made of light emitted as a result of decay of surface plasma oscillations in metal–oxide–metal structures. An absolute increase in the intensity of this light and its control were achieved by using a medium external to the metal film. This medium was a liquid crystal forming a domain structure in a static electric field. The arrangement provided a convenient means for investigating the processes of radiative decay of surface plasmons.