Radiative and non-radiative local density of states on disordered plasmonic films

We present numerical calculations of the local density of optical states (LDOS) in the near field of disordered plasmonic films. The calculations are based on an integral volume method, that takes into account polarization and retardation effects, and allows us to discriminate radiative and non-radiative contributions to the LDOS. At short distance, the LDOS fluctuations are dominated by non-radiative channels, showing that changes in the spontaneous dynamics of dipole emitters are driven by non-radiative coupling to plasmon modes. Maps of radiative and non-radiative LDOS exhibit strong fluctuations, but with substantially different spatial distributions.

► We compute numerically the LDOS in the near field of disordered plasmonic films.
► The calculations take into account polarization and retardation effects in 3D.
► Numerical results are exact and in excellent agreement with known experimental ones.
► We can discriminate radiative and non-radiative contributions to the LDOS.
► At short distance, LDOS fluctuations are dominated by non-radiative channels.