Imaging the Nonlinear Plasmoemission Dynamics of Electrons from Strong Plasmonic Fields.

We use subcycle time-resolved photoemission microscopy to unambiguously distinguish optically triggered electron emission (photoemission) from effects caused purely by the plasmonic field (termed "plasmoemission"). We find from time-resolved imaging that nonlinear plasmoemission is dominated by the transverse plasmon field component by utilizing a transient standing wave from two counter-propagating plasmon pulses of opposite transverse spin. From plasmonic foci on flat metal surfaces, we observe highly nonlinear plasmoemission up to the fifth power of intensity and quantized energy transfer, which reflects the quantum-mechanical nature of surface plasmons.

Anisotropy of electromigration-induced void and island drift.

By means of our novel self-learning kinetic Monte Carlo model (Latz et al 2012 J. Phys.: Condens.

Interaction of light and surface plasmon polaritons in Ag islands studied by nonlinear photoemission microscopy.

Two photon photoemission microscopy was used to study the interaction of femtosecond laser pulses with Ag islands prepared using different strategies on Si(111) and SiO₂. The femtosecond laser pulses initiate surface plasmon polariton (SPP) waves at the edges of the island. The superposition of the electrical fields of the femtosecond laser pulses with the electrical fields of the SPP results in a moiré pattern that is comparable despite the rather different methods of preparation and that gives access to the wavelength and direction of the SPP waves.

Epitaxial Ag wires with a single grain boundary for electromigration.

Test structures for electromigration with defined grain boundary configurations can be fabricated using focused ion beam (FIB). We present a novel approach of combining epitaxial growth of Ag islands with FIB milling. Depending on the growth parameters, bi-crystalline Ag islands can be grown on Si(111) surfaces and can be structured into wires by FIB.

The influence of anisotropic diffusion on Ag nanowire formation.

Photoemission electron microscopy is used to study the growth of single-crystalline silver nanowires on flat and vicinal Si(001) substrates. The growth experiments were performed at various temperatures and showed a temperature dependence of nanowire formation. The nanowires on Si(001) are evenly distributed in the [110] and [Formula: see text] directions on the surface, whereas on a 4° vicinal surface the wires grow only along the steps, in the [Formula: see text] direction.