Study of surface plasma-wave reflectance and roughness-induced scattering in silver foils

Abstract

The results of an experimental investigation of both scattering and reflectance of roughened silver foils are described. Roughness has been induced by use of calcium fluoride on glass or of random dispersions of small spheres on glass onto which opaque silver layers have been evaporated. A detailed comparison of the wavelength location of the experimental surface-plasma resonance has been made to scattering calculations including second-order self-energy corrections to the surface-plasmon dispersion relation. Self-consistent roughness parameters have been obtained from such an analysis, although limitations in the present theory are emphasized. Remarks are made on depolarization scattering.