Dynamic near-field calculations of surface-plasmon polariton pulses resonantly scattered at sub-micron metal defects

We investigate theoretically the near-field dynamics of the scattering of a surface-plasmon polariton (SPP) pulse impinging normally on a rectangular groove on an otherwise planar metal surface. Our formulation is based on solving the reduced Rayleigh equation (derived through the use of an impedance boundary condition) for every component of the spectral decomposition of the incoming SPP pulse. Numerical calculations are carried out of the time dependence of the near-field resonant scattering effects produced at the rectangular groove. The scattering process is tracked through the (time-resolved) repartition of the incoming SPP electromagnetic energy into reflected and transmitted SPP pulses, and into pulsed scattered light. Furthermore, we directly show evidence of the excitation of single resonances, as manifested by the concentration of electric field intensity within the groove, and its subsequent leakage, over the resonance lifetime. The near-field formation of oscillations caused by the interference between two adjacent resonances simultaneously excited is also considered. (C) 2004 Optical Society of America.