Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
The infrared absorption from molecular monolayers is enhanced a factor of 20 by thin metal overlayers or underlayers with use of the attenuated-total-reflection technique. The total enhancement, including contributions from the attenuated-total-reflection geometry, is almost 10⁴. This effect is consistent with an electric field enhancement due to collective electron resonances associated with the island nature of the thin metal films.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Hartstein et al. (1980) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: