Experimental study of enhanced transmission through subwavelength linear apertures flanked by periodic corrugations

We present a study of optical transmission in the visible and near-infrared regimes through subwavelength apertures in gold films. Samples consisting of single, ~100 nm wide, 50 micron long, linear apertures, centered between two finite grating structures, were prepared using electron-beam lithography with subsequent broad-beam argon-ion milling. The period and number of the corrugations that make up the grating structures was constant, while the distance between the gratings on each side of the aperture was varied. Spectrally resolved far-field transmission measurements were obtained for normal incidence with a spectrometer-coupled optical microscope configured for transmission measurements. Transmission through these structures was significantly enhanced relative to an isolated aperture at resonant wavelengths for transverse magnetic polarized incident light, in agreement with the literature. Wavelengths where the transmission was suppressed relative to an isolated aperture were also observed. The wavelengths of maximum transmission and of suppression were found to depend on the spacing between the grating arrays and the aperture. Measured spectra were consistent with modeled results and can be interpreted in terms of the interference between the incident light and surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) as well as cavity resonances of the SPPs.

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