Local 2PPE-yield enhancement in a defined periodic silver nanodisk array

Well-prepared periodic arrays of silver nanoparticles are investigated by means of linear and non-linear photoemission electron microscopy. The structures show homogeneous photoemission for UV excitation in the linear photoemission regime whereas striking inhomogeneities are mapped in the case of the nonlinear (2 photon) excitation using ultrashort 400 nm laser pulses. A detailed analysis enables to assign these inhomogeneities to defect induced electron momentum transfer processes only effective for the 2 photon excitation process. We propose this mechanism to be of relevance for the appearance of so-called hot spots in nonlinear photoemission as identified in other 2PPE studies in the past. Furthermore, the complementarity between all-optical studies and nonlinear photoemission studies of localized surface plasmons in nanoparticles is discussed.