電子ビームを金属回折格子表面に沿って走行させて,表面プラズモンを発生して上側へ光として取り出す光源の開発を目指した.スミス・パーセル放射より長波長側の1.8-2.1μm帯で表面プラズモン発生が関与した発光が観測された.一方,有機EL素子では金属電極/有機界面での表面プラズモンによる光吸収の問題がある.金属界面に凹凸構造を形成すると表面プラズモンを光として散乱させることができる.この表面ラフネス効果を利用して色素添加有機層から空気側への発光が増大することを実験的に観測した.
We tried the development of electromagnetic radiation source using the method taken out as light by generating surface plasmons when the electron beam runs along the surface of metallic diffraction gratings. The optical radiations caused by the generation of surface plasmons were observed in wavelengths that were longer than the Smith-Purcell radiation. Moreover, in the organic EL devices, there is a problem of the optical absorption by surface plasmons in the interface of a metal electrode and an organic film. Surface roughness formed on the metal interface scatters the surface plasmons as light. We experimentally observed that the emission of light to air side from dye doped organic film can be enhanced with this surface roughness effect.