Plasmon drag effect in profile-modulated gold films. Theory and experiment

Plasmon drag effect is studied theoretically and experimentally in gold films with a sine-wave height profile. Numerical simulations based on the modified electromagnetic momentum loss approach are shown to correctly describe the photoinduced voltage associated with propagating surface plasmon polaritons. Direct proportionality of energy and momentum transfer in interactions of plasmons and free electrons in metal is proven to be valid for surfaces with relatively low height modulation amplitudes. The effect is also discussed in frames of an equivalent circuit model, which can provide qualitative description for surfaces with random roughness.