Applications of Surface Polaritons for Vibrational Spectroscopic Studies of Thin and Very Thin Films

Studies of the surface state of solids, their detection, and studies of the surface transition layers including oxide films, physi-, and chemisorbed monomolecular films, their transformations at phase transitions and their chemical reactions have stimulated the development of a series of new methods. The nondestructive character of optical methods, their sensitivity to molecular structure and to the nature of chemical bonding, makes them very attractive for use.