Localized surface plasmon polaritons and nonlinear overcoming of the diffraction optical limit

Abstract

Experimental results on the formation of ordered structures on the surface and in the near-surface layer of condensed media under the action of linearly polarized laser radiation pulses are analyzed. The formation of subdiffraction nanostructure gratings with anomalous orientation is discussed in the context of the universal polariton model. A physical model of the formation of anomalous structure gratings with periods much less than the laser radiation wavelength is proposed and experimentally verified. The model is based on excitation and mutual interference of channel (wedge) surface plasmon polaritons.