Spectrum of Thermal Radiation of Surface Plasmon-Polaritons Diffracted at the Edge of a Plane Metal Face

It is assumed that the use of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) generated by thermal vibrations of conduction electrons of the skin layer of a metal substrate makes it possible to refuse an external radiation source in the spectroscopy of surface electromagnetic waves. It is shown that the angular coordinate of the maximum of the integral radiation of thermally stimulated SPPs (TSPPs) depends on the distance to the edge of the metal face. The directional diagram of the radiation of TSPPs, diffracted at the edge of a rectangular face of a metal sample, has been measured. It has been established that the edge of a face of a metal body is a dispersing element for thermal radiation of surface electromagnetic waves.