Surface plasmon mediated emission in resonant-cavity light-emitting diodes

Abstract

In this letter the authors describe a particular method to outcouple in air, via surface plasmons (SPs), optical radiation trapped in leaky waveguide modes of a resonant-cavity light-emitting diode. The deposition of a thin metal layer on the device surface creates SP modes at both the metal-dielectric interfaces. The successive overcoating of the metal layer with a thin polymer film and the roughening of its surface produce outcoupling of radiation trapped in leaky modes via SP modes. Experimental results for polarization resolved reflectivity and emission spectra are in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions. © 2006 American Institute of Physics.