Lysenko S. Mechanisms of surface and plane wave scattering by multi-scale surface inhomogeneities

The thesis is devoted to investigation of the surface and plane electromagnetic wave interaction with macro-, micro- and nanoinhomogeneities of gold and silver surfaces. Scattered light gives information about the nature of the wave and its interaction with matter. The processes of surface waves diffraction on macroscale surface inhomogeneities, particularly, on arbitrarily oriented one-dimensional defect were considered. The main features of spatial distribution of surface waves scattering by arbitrary oriented one-dimensional surface defect are determinated. The numerical analysis of experimental data was applied for comparison of surface plasmon-polariton and evanescent wave scattering by one-dimensional defect. New method for investigation of surface inhomogeneities cross-correlation properties is presented. Such method was developed on basis of quantitative analysis of scattered light spatial distribution. Significant differences between total integrated scattering of surface plasmon-polariton and plane waves are experimentally shown for gold thin films. Furthermore, power spectral density functions of surface roughness, which were calculated from scattering data of these waves are different. Hemispherical elastic surface plasmon-polariton and plane waves scattering by planar layer of gallium nanoparticles are shown. Specific features that result from the presence of nanoparticles are discussed. Numerical analysis of experimental data enables comparison between scattering of the waves of two types. The scattering cross-sections of one nanoparticle was calculated.