Giant optical transmission of sub-wavelength apertures: physics and applications

Thio, Tineke; Lezec, Henri J.; Ebbesen, Thomas W.; Pellerin, K. M.; Lewen, G. D.; Nahata, Ajay; Linke, R. A.

doi:10.1088/0957-4484/13/3/337

Cited by 151 publications

(108 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…[26,27,28] This once again emphasizes the difference between the properties of the near-field and the far-field and underlines the importance of performing near-field experiments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Advanced terahertz electric near-field measurements at sub-wavelength diameter metallic apertures

Adam¹,

Brok²,

Seo³

et al. 2008

Opt. Express

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Abstract:Using terahertz-light excitation, we have measured with sub-wavelength spatial, and sub-cycle temporal resolution the time-and frequency-dependent electric-field and surface-charge density in the vicinity of small metallic holes. In addition to a singularity like concentration of the electric field near the hole edges, we observe, that holes can act as differential operators whose near-field output is the time-derivative of the incident electric field. Our results confirm the well-known predictions made by Bouwkamp, Philips Res. Rep. 5, 321-332 (1950), and reveal, with unprecedented detail, what physically happens when light passes through a small hole.

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“…[26,27,28] This once again emphasizes the difference between the properties of the near-field and the far-field and underlines the importance of performing near-field experiments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Advanced terahertz electric near-field measurements at sub-wavelength diameter metallic apertures

Adam¹,

Brok²,

Seo³

et al. 2008

Opt. Express

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“…In particular, periodic structures around a nano-aperture are of great interest because the optical transmittance through these systems can be largely tailored with respect to that of an isolated aperture. Bull's eye (BE) structures, consisting of a subwavelength aperture surrounded by annular grooves, have revealed that the transmitted light through the aperture can be strongly boosted and concentrated due to the excitation of surface plasmons (SP) launched by the periodic corrugations [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. Attention has recently been given on coherent optical properties that are at play on BE structures where the direct transmission of light through the aperture interferes with an SP component launched by the corrugations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms for extraordinary optical transmission through bull’s eye structures

et al. 2011

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Abstract:We analyze both experimentally and theoretically the physical mechanisms that determine the optical transmission through deep subwavelength bull's eye structures (concentric annular grooves surrounding a circular hole). Our analysis focus on the transmission resonance as a function of the distance between the central hole and its nearest groove. We find that, for that resonance, each groove behaves almost independently, acting as an optical cavity that couples to incident radiation, and reflecting the surface plasmons radiated by the other side of the same cavity. It is the constructive contribution at the central hole of these standing waves emitted by independent grooves which ends up enhancing transmission. Also for each groove the coupling and reflection coefficients for surface plasmons are incorporated into a phenomenological Huygens-Fresnel model that gathers the main mechanisms to enhance transmission. Additionally, it is shown that the system presents a collective resonance in the electric field that does not lead to resonant transmission, because the fields radiated by the grooves do not interfere constructively at the central hole.

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“…However, by using periodic grooves around the aperture on the input surface, transmission efficiency could be greatly enhanced (see e.g. [3][4][5][6]). Such a phenomenon has been intensively studied [7][8][9] and can be applied in many potential applications [10,11].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A theoretical re-examination of giant transmission of light through a metallic nano-slit surrounded with periodic grooves

Cui¹,

He²

2009

Opt. Express

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The giant transmission of light through a metallic nano-slit surrounded by periodic grooves on the input surface is revisited theoretically. It is shown that the influence to the transmission comes from three parts: the groove-generated surface plasmon wave (SPW), the nano-slit-generated SPW and the incident wave. The groove-generated SPW is the main factor determining the local field distribution around the nano-slit opening, which is directly related to the transmission through the nano-slit. The nano-slit-generated SPW can be considered as a disturbance to the light distribution on the input surface. The influence of the incident wave can be strongly reduced when strong surface plasmon wave is generated on the input surface by many periods of deep grooves. Our study shows that the slit-to-groove distance for a maximal transmission through the nano-slit surrounded with periodic grooves can not be predicted by several previous theories, including the magnetic field phase theory of a recent work (Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 043902, 2007). A clear physical explanation is given for the dependence of the transmission on the slit-to-groove distance.PACS numbers: 42.25. Bs, 42.25.Fx, 42.79.Ag, 73.20.Mf Transmission efficiency of an isolated nano-aperture in a metallic film is quite low [1,2]. However, by using periodic grooves around the aperture on the input surface, transmission efficiency could be greatly enhanced (see e.g.[3-6]). Such a phenomenon has been intensively studied [7][8][9] and can be applied in many potential applications [10,11].However, until now the physical mechanism of this phenomenon is still not fully explained. For example, one important issue is the dependence of the transmission on the distance between the nano-slit center and the nearest groove center, and this has been studied in Refs. [7] and [9] with inconsistent conclusions (both conclusions are not correct as one will see below in our study). In this letter, through an extensive study of the transmission (field) property for different slit-to-groove distances in various scenarios, we explain clearly the physical mechanism of extraordinary transmission through the nano-slit surrounded with periodic grooves. First we study the structure with groove depth H = 60 nm, width W g = 250 nm, period P = 720 nm and number N = 12.The distance between the slit center and the nearest groove center (slit-to-groove distance) is denoted by L and the width of the nano-slit is W s = 50 nm. In Fig. 2(a), we show transmission efficiency η as a function of L when t = 340 nm (thin solid curve; forming a non-resonant nano-slit) or t = 200 nm (thick solid curve; resonant). Since the transmission through the nano-slit is directly related to the local field distribution around the nano-slit opening, we fill the air nano-slit with the same metal (gold) and check the magnetic field amplitude |H y | at point (0, -10 nm) as a function of distance L [the dashed curve in Fig. 2(a)]. One sees that the dashed curve oscillates with the same features as the thin solid curve...

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Giant optical transmission of sub-wavelength apertures: physics and applications

Cited by 151 publications

References 24 publications

Advanced terahertz electric near-field measurements at sub-wavelength diameter metallic apertures

Advanced terahertz electric near-field measurements at sub-wavelength diameter metallic apertures

Mechanisms for extraordinary optical transmission through bull’s eye structures

A theoretical re-examination of giant transmission of light through a metallic nano-slit surrounded with periodic grooves

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