Surface plasmon enhanced emission from dye doped polymer layers

We have experimentally verified that the emission of visible light from dye doped polymers can be enhanced with the use of surface plasmon coupling. By matching the plasmon frequency of a thin unpatterned silver film to the emission of a dye doped polymer deposited onto this metal surface, we have observed a eleven-fold enhancement of light emission. By patterning the silver layer, we estimate that the plasmon frequency can be tuned to match dye doped polymer emission frequencies and even larger emission enhancements as well as extraction efficiencies are expected. (C) 2005 Optical Society of America.