Heinz Raether (1909–1986) was a physicist who wrote this book on surface plasmons on smooth and rough surfaces and on gratings. The book, published in 1988, is part of the Springer Tracts in Modern Physics series. It discusses the physics of surface plasmons (SPs), which are electromagnetic waves that propagate along surfaces and decay exponentially away from them. SPs can be excited by both electrons and light, and they have important applications in optical phenomena, such as resonance amplification of electromagnetic fields, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and second harmonic generation (SHG). The book also covers the effects of surface roughness on SPs, including the measurement of roughness parameters and the influence of corrugated surfaces on light scattering. It discusses the coupling of SPs with photons, the role of localized plasmons in enhancing fields, and the application of gratings in SP-related phenomena. The book includes detailed theoretical and experimental analyses, as well as discussions on the implications of SPs for both fundamental research and practical applications. Raether's work has been influential in the field of surface plasmonics, and this book provides a comprehensive overview of the subject. The book was written in collaboration with other researchers and includes contributions from various colleagues. It is a valuable resource for scientists and engineers working in the fields of optics, surface physics, and materials science.Heinz Raether (1909–1986) was a physicist who wrote this book on surface plasmons on smooth and rough surfaces and on gratings. The book, published in 1988, is part of the Springer Tracts in Modern Physics series. It discusses the physics of surface plasmons (SPs), which are electromagnetic waves that propagate along surfaces and decay exponentially away from them. SPs can be excited by both electrons and light, and they have important applications in optical phenomena, such as resonance amplification of electromagnetic fields, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and second harmonic generation (SHG). The book also covers the effects of surface roughness on SPs, including the measurement of roughness parameters and the influence of corrugated surfaces on light scattering. It discusses the coupling of SPs with photons, the role of localized plasmons in enhancing fields, and the application of gratings in SP-related phenomena. The book includes detailed theoretical and experimental analyses, as well as discussions on the implications of SPs for both fundamental research and practical applications. Raether's work has been influential in the field of surface plasmonics, and this book provides a comprehensive overview of the subject. The book was written in collaboration with other researchers and includes contributions from various colleagues. It is a valuable resource for scientists and engineers working in the fields of optics, surface physics, and materials science.