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Surface Plasmon Resonance on
Thin Films and Supported Lipid Bilayers,
Using a Differential Gearbox Reflectometer
Todd Fallesen '04

Todd's experiment

Abstract:

    Surface plasmons are an interesting phenomenon that occurs in thin films of metal and other objects with a complex dielectric constant. Originating at the boundary between an insulator and a conductor, they can be described through many different formalisms. Mathematically, surface plasmons can be seen as a solution to Maxwell's thin film equations at the boundary between an insulator and a metal. Conceptually, they can be described as a charge density wave at the interface of an insulator and the metal. Surface plasmons can also be understood as a thin film interference effect, where the thin film has a large complex index of refraction.

   For more information, contact Dr. Catherine Jahncke:

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