Demonstration of an elliptical plasmonic lens illuminated with radially-like polarized field

We demonstrate an elliptically symmetric plasmonic lens that is illuminated by a radially-like polarization field. This illumination function is TM polarized with regard to the plasmonic lens, ensuring optimum coupling of the incident light into surface plasmons polaritons. The structure is analyzed theoretically by using the Green function approach, and a finite difference time domain simulation. Both approaches provide similar results. Specifically we calculate and experimentally measure the field distribution on the surface and a few microns above it. The results show strong dependency of the electric field distribution on the eccentricity of the elliptic structure and the illumination wavelength. The interference of surface plasmons generates a structured pattern consisting of distinct peaks distributed inside the ellipse with locations that are wavelength dependent. This pattern can be used in several applications including structured illumination microscopy, particles beam trapping and sensing. (C)2010 Optical Society of America