Although an optical signal suffers more loss in a metal than in a dielectric such as glass, a plasmon can travel in a thin-film metal waveguide for several centimeters before dying out.

• 虽然光学讯号在金属中的耗损比在玻璃等介电质中来得高，但电浆子可在薄膜金属波导中行进数公分才消失。