Disclosed is a surface plasmon optic device that has a periodic array of
apertures in a dielectric substrate and a metal film formed on the
dielectric substrate and emits light from metal-air interface. The
surface plasmon optic device includes a surface plasmon generating
apparatus, a surface plasmon detecting apparatus, a surface plasmon
controlling apparatus, an etching apparatus, etc. if a metal diffraction
grating is disposed on the metal film having a well-defined interface,
propagation of the surface plasmon can be efficiently reflected, divided
and controlled. Further, radiating surface plasmon having a half period
of a lattice constant formed at air-metal (1, 0) can be preserved at a
distance of at least a few micron.