Photoelectron emission caused by surface plasmons in silver nanoparticles

A new intense band of photoelectron emission peaked at a wavelength of 490 nm has been observed in granular silver films with a nanoparticle size of 10-50 nm. Coinciding with an optical reflection band, the new photoelectron emission peak is related to the excitation of surface plasmons in silver nanoparticles. The quantum yield of photoemission (0.25%) for the new band is approximately equal to that for a longwave band of the classical silver-oxygen-cesium photocathode. It is demonstrated that the photoelectron emission from both photoemitters has a common nature and a time constant on the order of several femtoseconds can be obtained. (C) 2004 MAIK "Nauka / Interperiodica".