Angular spectrum analysis of near-field diffraction of a small aperture

The near-field diffraction of a nanometer aperture is studied in this paper according to the angular spectrum theory. The mathematic expressions of the near-field diffraction are presented, and the influences of the polarization of the electromagnetic field and the evanescent wave on the diffraction in near field are analyzed by means of vector and scalar diffraction theory, respectively. The transverse and longitudinal diffraction intensity distributions of a small aperture are numerically calculated, and the results show the near-field diffraction of a small aperture is influenced strongly by the vector property of the electromagnetic field and the evanescent component.     

Plasmonic effects in near-field optical transmission enhancement through a single bowtie-shaped aperture

In this paper, the enhanced optical transmission through a special type of aperture of a bowtie shape is investigated through near-field imaging and finite-difference numerical analysis. Under linear polarizations in two orthogonal directions, the optical near fields of the bowtie aperture and comparable square and rectangular apertures made in gold and chromium thin films are measured and compared. The bowtie aperture is able to provide a nanometer-sized optical spot when the incident light is polarized across the bowtie gap and delivers a considerable amount of light. Localized surface plasmons are clearly observed in the near-field images for both bowtie and rectangular apertures in gold, but invisible in chromium. Finite-difference time-domain calculations reveal that, depending on the polarization of the incident light, the unique optical properties of the bowtie aperture are a result of either the optical waveguide and the coupled surface plasmon polariton modes existing in the bowtie gap or the coupling between the two open arms of the bowtie aperture. PACS 81.07.-b; 07.79.Fc; 71.36.+c; 78.66.Bz; 42.79.Gn; 42.79.Vb     

Two-dimensional photonic crystals with a lattice defect: Spectrum of defect modes, localization of light, and formation of evanescent waves

Properties of an electromagnetic field localized in the defect modes of two-dimensional photonic crystals are studied. The defect-mode spectrum of these structures is calculated, electromagnetic field localization and channeling effects are analyzed, and the properties of the field inside and beyond a photonic crystal with a lattice defect are also studied. The calculations show that the electromagnetic field is localized in the defect mode of a photonic crystal in a region smaller than the wavelength. The dependence of the defect-mode spectrum on the parameters of the photonic crystal is investigated and possibilities for controlling the spectrum of defect modes are indicated. It is shown that the optical field leaving a photonic crystal possesses the properties of a evanescent wave, which means that spatial resolution substantially greater than the wavelength of the radiation can be achieved in the near field and opens up possibilities for using photonic crystals with a lattice defect in near-field optical microscopy. The possibility of externally controlling an optical field localized in the defect modes of a photonic crystals is demonstrated.     

偶氮苯聚合物全息光栅衍射效率和偏振特性研究

研究了不同偏振全息模式下基于交联偶氮苯聚合物薄膜的相位光栅的形成机理、衍射效率和偏振特性.利用琼斯矢量表征了正交线偏振(SP)和半行线偏振(SS)干涉模式下的偏振干涉场.基于SP和SS两种模式,制作了无明显表成起伏的纯折射率光栅和有表面起伏的浮雕光栅.偏光显微镜(POM)观测说明纯折射率光栅具有周期性的折射率分布;近场光学显微镜(SNOM)探测说明纯折射率光栅和浮雕光栅的表而起伏在5 nm以下和 85.23 nm.实验表明.当探测光为水平偏振时,纯折射率光栅的衍射效率达到22.2%.浮雕光栅只能达到1.65%.纯折射率光栅的0、 1级衍射光分别为水平和竖直线偏振光,偏振度达到0.9969和0.9963;浮雕光栅的0, 1级衍射光均为水平线偏振光.     

Communication modes in scalar diffraction

The communication modes are a useful concept in studies of optical resolution, wave propagation, and image synthesis. We present an overview of earlier results on the communication modes in scalar diffraction theory. Besides the general theory, the modes are reviewed for the far-field and Fresnel regimes, and new eigenequations are derived for wide-angle diffraction. We prove a conjugate relationship between the transmitting and receiving modes in a general symmetric system. We also suggest an approximate method for far-field and Fresnel domain propagation, in which propagation amounts to a rotation of each mode in the complex plane. The main focus is on the near-field communication modes, where we present numerical examples of the modes and coupling strengths for a near-field geometry with a sub-wavelength size receiving domain. These results provide insights, for example, into the understanding of near-field scanning probe techniques.     

矩孔光栅的矢量模式理论

本文引入满足均匀矢量亥姆霍兹（Ｈｅｌｍｈｏｌｔｚ）方程的矢量波函数作为基矢，对矩孔光栅的孔内外光场分别进行矢量模式展开和矢量平面波展开，并由耦合条件导出了求解展开系数的方程组，从方程组中求解出相应的振幅系数，可研究光栅的衍射场分布，该方法可研究入入射扬方向和偏振任意时的衍射效率和偏振特性等问题。     

太赫兹偏振测量系统及其应用

麦克斯韦方程中的介质响应特性一般由本构关系中的介电函数ε(ω)和磁导率μ(ω)来描述,对于介质中传播的电磁场,通常存在两个独立的本征传播模式,它们是齐次麦克斯韦方程组的特解,各自具有特定的色散关系和偏振态。如果介质中传播的电磁场为两个本征模分量的线性迭加,其偏振态将会随着传播的过程而改变。常见的现象有各向异性晶体中的双折射、超材料中的偏振调制效应、自然界中手性材料的旋光响应以及外磁场作用下产生的Faraday效应等。本文从测量方法、数据处理、测量精度等方面介绍太赫兹时域偏振检测系统及其发展状况,特别是利用线栅、超材料以及光学手段调制太赫兹电场偏振态的方法。对近几年太赫兹偏振检测系统在分析手性超材料、太赫兹圆二色谱以及Faraday效应等实验中的应用进行了总结和讨论。最后展望了太赫兹偏振检测系统未来进一步的发展空间及应用前景。     

金属覆层光纤探针近场特性研究

采用有限积分法对用于近场光学显微镜的旋转对称光纤探针进行了数值模拟计算,研究了光纤探针开口附近亚波长范围的电磁场及其能量密度的分布.计算结果表明,在探针外,光场为沿探针轴线方向的近逝波,其空间光场的分布与激励光场及其极化方向有关,在激励光场的极化方向出现了由感应电荷引起的边缘增强效应.同时研究了近场光纤探针的空间分辨率和样品处的电磁场能量,结果表明光纤探针孔的尺寸及其与样品的作用距离是影响探针的分辨率和样品内电磁场能量的重要因素.     

Theoretical Analyses on the Resolution of Collection Mode Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscopy

Numerical simulations have been carried out in the framework of waveguide theory to model collection mode scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM). The theoretical model includes the optical fiber end and describes the metal coated aperture on the probe tip. The developed formalism goes beyond the existing Bethe-Bouwkamp theories for electromagnetic transmission of subwavelength apertures. The finite coating and optical fiber end are now taken into account. The new features enable us to simulate the near-field probes that are widely used in the collection mode SNOM. The emphases of the numerical analyses have been mainly on the resolution mechanism of the microscopy. Influence on the resolution from important parameters of the probe tips, such as the size of the apertures and the probe-sample distance, is extensively studied. The resolution dependence has been analyzed in the light of the near-field coupling efficiency of the probe tip. An optimum tip size has been found which is balanced between the significant signal transmission and the resolution of the device.     

Localization and channeling of light in defect modes of two-dimensional photonic crystals

The spatial distribution of the electromagnetic field in a two-dimensional photonic crystal with a lattice defect is investigated. It is shown that in such a structure the field can be localized in a region smaller than one wavelength in size. The dependence of the spectrum of defect modes on the parameters of a two-dimensional photonic crystal is investigated. The light field at the exit of the photonic crystal possesses properties of a nonradiative mode, making it possible to achieve spatial resolution in the near-field much higher than the radiation wavelength. The possibilities of using this phenomenon in optical near-field microscopy to produce optical memory devices and to increase the efficiency of nonlinear optical interactions are discussed. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 70, No. 5, 323–328 (10 September 1999)     

照明模式SNOM中样品对近场光场分布的影响

在同时考虑样品的形貌及材料光学参量和入射光偏振模式的情况下,利用基于边界元方法编写的二维矢量电磁场计算程序,对工作在照明模式下的扫描近场光学显微镜（Scanning Near-field Optical Microscope,SNOM）的近场矢量电磁场分布进行了数值计算模拟研究.结果表明,在没有表面形貌特征时,探针的光能量透射率随样品材料的折射率和损耗角的增加而增大,而样品表面光斑尺寸受折射率和损耗角的影响很小；对有形貌特征的探针扫描像研究结果表明,SNOM的分辨率随着样品的折射率和损耗角的增加而提高；对SNOM不同的工作模式的扫描成像信号进行的计算结果表明,恒定间距扫描方式比恒定高度扫描方式对样品表面的细节有较强的分辨能力.     

Near-field characteristics of highly non-paraxial subwavelength optical fields with hybrid states of polarization

The vectorial structure of an optical field with hybrid states of polarization(So P) in the near-field is studied by using the angular spectrum method of an electromagnetic beam. Physical images of the longitudinal components of evanescent waves are illustrated and compared with those of the transverse components from the vectorial structure. Our results indicate that the relative weight integrated over the transverse plane of the evanescent wave depends strongly on the number of the polarization topological charges. The shapes of the intensity profiles of the longitudinal components are different from those of the transverse components, and it can be manipulated by changing the initial So P of the field cross-section. The longitudinal component of evanescent wave dominates the near-field region. In addition, it also leads to three-dimensional shape variations of the optical field and the optical spin angular momentum flux density distributions.     

一种近似矢量衍射模型在衍射微光学元件分析中的应用

标量衍射理论形式简洁，有很高实用性，但是在衍射微光学元件分析中显得模型粗糙，准确度下降。严格矢量衍射理论由于计算复杂，非常耗费时间和资源，因此也不是一种很有效的设计工具。 我们在本文中运用了一种简单的近似矢量衍射模型分析了几种典型衍射微光学元件衍射性能，此衍射模型采用了标量衍射理论和近似近场模型的结合。 TE和TM两种偏振模式均运用此近似矢量衍射模型进行了分析，我们发现此衍射模型可以得到比标量衍射理论更准确的结果，而与严格电磁场理论相比，它占用很少的计算时间。     

Polarization sensitive sub-wavelength metallic structures: toward near-field light confinement control

In this paper, we seek to demonstrate spatial near field light confinement with a truly sub-wavelength resolution in the visible range. For that purpose, an opaque metallic screen is pierced with an array of rectangular nano-apertures which support polarization sensitive guided modes. We show that it is possible to switch on and off sub-wavelength apertures about only 200 nanometers away. Theoretical results have been performed (3D-FDTD home-made code) and are in good agreement with the experimental results. These kinds of nano-structures might offer a convenient and versatile way to sub-wavelength light addressing, optical trapping, molecular, or nano-probing, non-linear spectroscopy.     

Reciprocity principle-based model for shielding effectiveness prediction of a rectangular cavity with a covered aperture

According to the reciprocity principle, we propose an efficient model to compute the shielding effectiveness of a rectangular cavity with apertures covered by conductive sheet against an external incident electromagnetic wave. This problem is converted into another problem of solving the electromagnetic field leakage from the cavity when the cavity is excited by an electric dipole placed within it. By the combination of the unperturbed cavity field and the transfer impedance of the sheet, the tangential electric field distribution on the outer surface of the sheet is obtained. Then, the field distribution is regarded as an equivalent surface magnetic current source responsible for the leakage field. The validation of this model is verified by a comparison with the circuital model and the full-wave simulations. This time-saving model can deal with arbitrary aperture shape, various wave propagation and polarization directions, and the near-field effect.     

Circularly polarized localized near-field radiation at the nanoscale

Diffraction-limited circularly polarized electromagnetic radiation has been widely used in the literature for various applications at both optical and microwave frequencies. With advances in nanotechnology, emerging plasmonic nano-optical applications, such as all-optical magnetic recording, require circularly polarized electromagnetic radiation beyond the diffraction limit. In this study, a plasmonic cross-dipole nano-antenna is investigated to obtain a circularly polarized near-field optical spot with a size smaller than the diffraction limit of light. A cross-dipole nano-antenna is composed of four metallic nano-rods placed at a perpendicular orientation with respect to each other. The performance of the nano-antenna is investigated through numerical simulations. In the first part of this study, the nano-antenna is illuminated with a diffraction-limited circularly polarized radiation. An optimal antenna geometry is specified to obtain an intense optical spot that satisfies two necessary conditions for circular polarization: a phase difference of 90° and a unit amplitude ratio between the electric field components in the vicinity of the antenna gap. In the second part of this study, the nano-antenna is illuminated with diffraction-limited linearly polarized radiation. It is shown that the phase difference between the electric field components can be adjusted by selecting either different antenna lengths or different gap distances in the vertical and horizontal directions. Due to the relatively short wavelength of surface plasma waves on the antenna, it is demonstrated that the phase difference can be sufficient to obtain circularly polarized light. An optimal physical configuration for the nano-antenna and the polarization angle of the incident light is identified to obtain a circularly polarized optical spot beyond the diffraction limit from diffraction-limited linearly polarized radiation.     

Near-field light localization using subwavelength apertures incorporated with metamaterials

We report strong near-field electromagnetic localization by using subwavelength apertures and metamaterials that operate at microwave frequencies. We designed split ring resonators with distinct configurations in order to obtain extraordinary transmission results. Furthermore, we analyzed the field localization and focusing characteristics of the transmitted evanescent waves. The employed metamaterial configurations yielded an improvement on the transmission efficiency on the order of 27 dB and 50 dB for the deep subwavelength apertures. The metamaterial loaded apertures are considered as a total system that offered spot size conversion ratios as high as 7.12 and 9.11 for the corresponding metamaterial configurations. The proposed system is shown to intensify the electric fields of the source located in the near-field. It also narrows down the electromagnetic waves such that a full width at half maximum value of λ/29 is obtained.     

微纳粒子光学散射分析

为实现利用光学方式对微纳尺度粒子性质的研究,探讨了亚微米线及亚微米球对光电磁波的散射效应.微纳米尺度粒子的光学散射,散射粒子尺寸与入射光波长尺寸可满足米氏(Mie)散射条件.利用Matlab数值模拟的方式,将分析结果以模拟图的形式清晰地展现出来.满足尺寸条件的层状粒子以及任意多个散射粒子存在时对电磁波的散射都可采用Mie散射分析方法,并且针对多粒子散射,分析了散射体位于不同位置时对散射造成的影响.通过分析光学散射光场相关的微分散射截面及近场散射电磁场分布,可得出散射光场随散射角度的变化趋势,以及散射光场受各类因素的影响,包括入射光偏振态、散射粒子尺寸、散射粒子结构及粒子构成层数、散射粒子数量等的影响,也包括一些隐含因素对散射光场的影响,如散射粒子与周围介质的相对折射率.本文的科学意义体现在:与入射光波长尺寸可比的亚微米尺度的粒子,可用作传感器,对于其位移的探测可通过光学方式来实现,而由于粒子本身特性对散射光的影响具有一定的参考价值,从而使通过光学方式对机械位移的读出具有更高准确度.研究结果对于光学方式探测亚微米线机械振动具有指导意义.     

The optical near-field speckles and their first order statistics on the basis of the integral equations of electromagnetic field

Speckle fields are the random light wave distributions produced when the light fields are scattered from random surfaces or a random medium. They appear in many optical phenomena that are related to light propagations[1,2] and have found wide appli-cations in a variety of scientific and technical fields. The examples of the recent impor-tant applications of speckles include the analysis of the movement of the granules[3], the three-dimensional imaging for the microstructures of metal nanocryst…     

Experimental verification on tightly focused radially polarized vortex beams

The theoretical and experimental results of tightly focused radially polarized vortex beams are demonstrated. An auto-focus technology is introduced into the measurement system in order to enhance the measurement precision, and the radially polarized vortex beams are generated by a liquid-crystal polarization converter and a vortex phase plate. The focused fields of radially polarized vortex beams with different topological charges at numerical apertures （NAs） of 0.65 and 0.85 are measured respectively, and the results indicate that the total intensity distribution at focus is dependent not only on the NA of the focusing objective lens and polarization pattern of the beam but also on the topological charge l of the beam. Some unique focusing properties of radially polarized vortex beams with fractional topological charges are presented based on numerical calculations. The experimental verification paves the way for some practical applications of radially polarized vortex beams, such as in optical trapping, near-field microscopy, and material processing.