Large luminescence enhancements from a quantum well located near gold gratings

Summary form only given.Using the simple system of a single quantum well located near a metal coated surface, we have demonstrated large enhancements in the quantum efficiency for luminescence emitted from the quantum well after optical excitation. We interpret these enhancements as due to the surface-plasmon excitation in the thin metallic film. We have performed cw luminescence measurements to determine the coupling between surface plasmons and light emitted from the quantum well. Our samples consist of a single GaAs-AlGaAs quantum well (width 6-8 nm) located near the surface (56-70 nm).