The role of proximity plasmon modes on noble metal surfaces in scanning tunneling microscopy

Abstract

Light emission from Cu(111) and Au(110) surfaces in the scanning tunneling microscope has been characterized. Fluorescence spectra are interpreted as arising from inelastic tunneling excitation of radiative tip-induced plasmon modes. Maps of integral phonon intensity measured simultaneously with topography are used to visualize the localized nature of these modes. © 1992.