Electron tunneling stimulated by surface plasmons
Balkashin O.P., Yanson M.K., Naidyuk Yu.G.
An increase in the conductivity of laser-irradiated tunneling junctions has been observed in experiment. The increment to the tunnel current depends on the type of metal, on the polarity of the applied voltage, and on the wavelength and polarization of the optical radiation. The results are interpreted as a consequence of inelastic interaction of the tunneling electrons with the plasmons of the metallic electrode.