Surface-plasmon-enhanced photodetection in planar AuGaAs schottky junctions

Surface plasmon resonances have been used to enhance the quantum efficiency in a gold on n-type GaAs Schottky barrier on a suitable prism coupler in the Kretschmann-Raether attenuated total reflection geometry. We have investigated the gold thickness dependence of reflectivity and quantum efficiency for p-polarized and s-polarized light of wavelength 1152 nm, below the GaAs band gap. Theoretical modelling of the reflectivity and quantum efficiency has been carried out. Both the experimental data and modelling indicate that optimum coupling to the surface plasmon, evidenced by a minimum in reflectivity with a corresponding peak in quantum efficiency for p-polarized light only, occurs for a gold thickness of about 40 nm.