Resonance transmittance through a metal film with subwavelength holes

An analytical theory for extraordinary light transmittance through an optically thick metal film with subwavelength holes is developed. It is shown that the film transmittance has sharp peaks that are due to the Maxwell-Garnet resonances in the holes. There are localized electric and magnetic resonances resulting in, respectively, dramatically enhanced electric and magnetic fields in the holes. A simple analytical expression for the resonance transmittance is derived that holds for arbitrary hole distribution. It is also shown that there are other types of transmittance resonances, when the holes are arranged into a regular lattice. These resonances occur because of the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons propagating over the film surface. A combination of the two kinds of resonances results in a rich spectral behavior in the extraordinary optical transmittance.

[1]  R. Wannemacher Plasmon-supported transmission of light through nanometric holes in metallic thin films , 2001 .

[2]  A. Zayats,et al.  Optical transmission of a metal film with periodic subwavelength holes: a near-field view , 2001, Technical Digest. Summaries of papers presented at the Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference. Postconference Technical Digest (IEEE Cat. No.01CH37172).

[3]  L J Wang,et al.  Delay in light transmission through small apertures. , 2001, Optics letters.

[4]  A. Zayats,et al.  Near-field distribution of optical transmission of periodic subwavelength holes in a metal film. , 2001, Physical review letters.

[5]  Vladimir M. Shalaev,et al.  Local electric and magnetic fields in semicontinuous metal films: Beyond the quasistatic approximation , 2000 .

[6]  J. Roy Sambles,et al.  Resonant tunneling of light through thin metal films via strongly localized surface plasmons , 2000 .

[7]  Vladimir M. Shalaev,et al.  Electrodynamics of metal-dielectric composites and electromagnetic crystals , 2000 .

[8]  Thomas W. Ebbesen,et al.  Crucial role of metal surface in enhanced transmission through subwavelength apertures , 2000 .

[9]  Vladimir M. Shalaev,et al.  Electromagnetic field fluctuations and optical nonlinearities in metal-dielectric composites , 2000 .

[10]  J. Pendry,et al.  Theory of extraordinary optical transmission through subwavelength hole arrays. , 2000, Physical review letters.

[11]  J. Sambles,et al.  Simultaneous observation of surface plasmons on both sides of thin silver films , 1999 .

[12]  Thomas W. Ebbesen,et al.  Surface-plasmon-enhanced transmission through hole arrays in Cr films , 1999 .

[13]  Christopher Robert Lawrence,et al.  Grating-coupled surface plasmons at microwave frequencies , 1999 .

[14]  J. R. Sambles,et al.  Flat surface-plasmon-polariton bands and resonant optical absorption on short-pitch metal gratings , 1999 .

[15]  H. Lezec,et al.  Control of optical transmission through metals perforated with subwavelength hole arrays. , 1999, Optics letters.

[16]  Thomas W. Ebbesen,et al.  Surface plasmons enhance optical transmission through subwavelength holes , 1998 .

[17]  H. Lezec,et al.  Extraordinary optical transmission through sub-wavelength hole arrays , 1998, Nature.

[18]  Alexei A. Maradudin,et al.  Coherent scattering enhancement in systems bounded by rough surfaces , 1997 .

[19]  A. Sarychev,et al.  Experimental and theoretical study of metal-dielectric percolating films at microwaves , 1997 .

[20]  Tonit Levy-Nathansohn Studies of the generalized Ohm's law , 1997 .

[21]  D. Bergman,et al.  DECOUPLING AND TESTING OF THE GENERALIZED OHM'S LAW , 1997 .

[22]  Stewart,et al.  Extremely low frequency plasmons in metallic mesostructures. , 1996, Physical review letters.

[23]  M. Sickmiller,et al.  3D Wire mesh photonic crystals. , 1996, Physical review letters.

[24]  Bergman,et al.  Theory of the optical and microwave properties of metal-dielectric films. , 1995, Physical review. B, Condensed matter.

[25]  A. Sarychev,et al.  Optical and microwave properties of metal-insulator thin films: possibility of light localization , 1994 .

[26]  G. Bader,et al.  Dielectric constants of silver particles finely dispersed in a gelatin film , 1993 .

[27]  H. Raether Surface Plasmons on Smooth and Rough Surfaces and on Gratings , 1988 .

[28]  E. M. Lifshitz,et al.  Electrodynamics of continuous media , 1961 .

[29]  Thomas W. Ebbesen,et al.  Fornel, Frédérique de , 2001 .

[30]  Martin Koch,et al.  Launching surface plasmons into nanoholes in metal films , 2000 .

[31]  J. R. Sambles,et al.  Surface plasmon-polariton study of the optical dielectric function of zinc , 1996 .

[32]  David J. Bergman,et al.  Physical Properties of Macroscopically Inhomogeneous Media , 1992 .