Role of radiative decay of valence plasmons in transmission spectra of Si, SiNx and PET membranes

• Published in: Solid state communications 2013-03, Vol.156, p.12-15
• Main Authors: Yadav, P.K., Gupta, R.K., Modi, M.H., Kumar, Shailendra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: A. Insulators; A. Membranes; Collective excitations (including excitons, polarons, plasmons and other charge-density excitations); Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; D. Valence plasmons; E. Transmission; Electronic structure and electrical properties of surfaces, interfaces, thin films and low-dimensional structures; Exact sciences and technology; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Optical properties of specific thin films; Physics; Surface and interface electron states
• ISSN: 0038-1098; 1879-2766
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ssc.2012.11.018

Membranes of Si, SiNx and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were investigated via vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) transmission measurements. The transmission spectra show maxima at energies equal to energies of valence plasmons (VPs) which are interpreted as signatures of radiative decay of VPs. Resonant generation and radiative decay mechanism of valence plasmons and their effects on transmission spectra are discussed. Furthermore, the energy of VPs in SiNx was also confirmed by photo electron spectroscopy (PES) measurements on SiNx thin film. The presented results demonstrate the light induced resonant generation and radiative decay of both, valence bulk and valence surface plasmons. ► Coupling of photons with valence bulk and surface plasmons. ► Radiative decay of valence bulk and surface plasmons. ► Role of radiative decay of valence bulk and surface plasmon in transmission spectra in VUV range.