Characteristics of Fluorescence Emission Excited by Grating-Coupled Surface Plasmons

Dye molecules placed on metallic gratings can experience an enhanced electromagnetic field if illuminated under surface plasmon excitation conditions, a situation that can be employed for sensor applications. The fluorescence emission in this situation exhibits a characteristic emission polarization and geometry given by the fluorophore/grating interaction. We present experiments visualizing the full shape of the emission profiles and demonstrate how they can be manipulated by means of the grating constant. The excitation and emission processes taking place on the grating surface are characterized by polarization sensitive measurements.