Coherent pseudo-mode representation of partially coherent surface plasmon polaritons

We develop a general coherent (pseudo)-mode representation of partially coherent surface plasmon polaritons in the Kretschmann excitation geometry. We obtain explicit analytical results for coherent pseudo-modes of narrowband SPPs with Gaussian spectra and spectral correlations. We also evaluate the global degree of coherence of such SPPs which quantifies their overall coherence state within a given spatial domain. Not only will the developed coherent pseudo-mode representation facilitate SPP coherence state characterization, but it will also substantially reduce the computational complexity of the studies of partially coherent SPP interactions with nanoparticles. (C) 2018 Optical Society of America