Optically thick metal films perforated with a periodic array of subwavelength holes show exceptional transmission properties. The zero-order transmission spectra exhibit well-defined maxima and minima of which the positions are determined by the geometry of the hole array. We show that the minima are the collection of loci for Wood's anomaly, which occurs when a diffracted beam becomes tangent to the film, and that the maxima are the result of a resonant excitation of surface plasmons ͑SP's͒. SP's from both surfaces of the metal film are apparent in the dispersion diagram, independent of which side of the film is illuminated, indicating an anomalously strong coupling between the two sides. This leads to wavelength-selective transmission with efficiencies that are about 1000 times higher than that expected for subwavelength holes.

In order to understand the details of the extraordinary enhancement of the optical transmission through subwavelength holes in metal films, we have fabricated perforated free-standing metal films where the nature of the bulk and surfaces can be controlled independently. We find that the transmission enhancement depends only on the dielectric properties of the metal within a skin depth of the two in-plane surfaces and not on those of the film core, nor on the metal constituting the hole walls. This provides direct and conclusive evidence that the phenomenon is mediated by surface plasmons.

The transmission spectrum of a metal that is perforated with a periodic array of subwavelength holes exhibits well-defined maxima and minima resulting from, respectively, a transmission enhancement by surface plasmons and Wood's anomaly, a diffraction effect. These features occur at wavelengths determined by the geometry of the hole arrays, the refractive index of the adjacent medium, and the angle of incidence. We demonstrate control of the transmission through variation of these parameters and show that perforated metal films may form a novel basis for electro-optic devices such as flat-panel displays, spatial light modulators, and tunable optical filters.

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Piezoelectric materials have many applications at cryogenic temperatures. However, the piezoelectric response below 10 kelvin is diminished, making the use of these materials somewhat marginal. Results are presented on strontium titanate (SrTiO3), which exhibits a rapidly increasing piezoelectric response with decreasing temperature below 50 kelvin; the magnitude of its response around 1 kelvin is comparable to that of the best materials at room temperature. This "giant" piezoelectric response may open the way for a broad class of applications including use in ultralow-temperature scanning microscopies and in a magnetic field-insensitive thermometer. These observations, and the possible divergence of the mechanical response to electric fields at even lower temperatures, may arise from an apparent quantum critical point at absolute zero.