Decay of molecules at corrugated thin metal films

The problem of the decay rate for molecules at corrugated thin metal films is considered theoretically via a classical phenomenological approach by generalization of a previous theory for a single rough surface. In particular, numerical results are worked out in detail for grating films with various possible arrangements of the two grating surfaces, and for both cases with a supported and a free-standing film. Effects due to cross coupling into the long- and short-range surface plasmons are observed, and correlations to recent experiments performed by Gruhlke, Holland, and Hall are made. It is suggested that fluorescence experiments with pulsed-laser excitations should be carried out in order for the results in the present calculation to be observed.