The discussion highlights that gold and silver are predominantly used as metal films for surface plasmon applications due to their superior conductivity and favorable dielectric properties at the interface with air. These metals are specifically effective for visible light frequencies, as their plasma frequency is significantly lower than their bulk plasma frequency. Additionally, gold's lack of an oxide layer preserves its optical characteristics, making it a preferred choice in many optical applications.
PREREQUISITESOptical engineers, materials scientists, and researchers in photonics who are involved in surface plasmon applications and metal film technologies.