Evidence for surface plasmons in a liquid crystal containing gold nanoparticles

We present evidence for surface plasmons (SPs) in a nematic liquid crystal (LC) containing dispersion of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs). The evidence originates from observations of attenuated total reflection (ATR) of p-polarized laser incident upon a high-index prism/LC-Au NPs/glass structure. We argue that SPs are generated through evanescent waves interacting with Au NPs embedded in the LC and NPs' dispersing medium. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4772066]