Enhanced light transmission through a single subwavelength aperture

The optical transmission through a subwavelength aperture in a metal film is strongly enhanced when the incident light is resonant with surface plasmons at the corrugated metal surface surrounding the aperture. Conversely, the aperture acts as a novel probe of the surface plasmons, yielding useful insights for optimizing the transmission enhancement. For the optimal corrugation geometry, a set of concentric circular grooves, three times more light is transmitted through the central subwavelength aperture than directly impinges upon it. This effect is useful in the fabrication of near-field optical devices with extremely high optical throughput.     

Super-transmission of light through subwavelength annular aperture arrays in metallic films: Spectral analysis and near-field optical images in the visible range

This paper presents experimental studies of the enhanced light transmission through metallic films pierced by subwavelength annular apertures. Two different methods (e-beam lithography and focused ion beam) have been used to build the nano-structures. We have experimentally recorded their far-field spectral response in the visible range and the optical near-field above the nano-structures when they are excited at 633 nm. The spectral response exhibits a transmission peak at 700 nm with maximum efficiency around 16%. The near-field exhibits a characteristic two-lobe structure just above the aperture. Finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations reproduce quite well the experimental results.     

Extraordinary acoustic transmission through a 1D grating with very narrow apertures

Recently, there has been an increased interest in studying extraordinary optical transmission (EOT) through subwavelength aperture arrays perforated in a metallic film. In this Letter, we report that the transmission of an incident acoustic wave through a one-dimensional acoustic grating can also be drastically enhanced. This extraordinary acoustic transmission (EAT) has been investigated both theoretically and experimentally, showing that the coupling between the diffractive wave and the wave-guide mode plays an important role in EAT. This phenomenon can have potential applications in acoustics and also might provide a better understanding of EOT in optical subwavelength systems.     

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     

High-optical-throughput individual nanoscale aperture in a multilayered metallic film

The optical transmission of an individual subwavelength aperture in a multilayered metal film is shown to be enhanced compared with that of a homogeneous metal film. The enhancement effect is due to the light coupling to surface plasmon excitation facilitated by a film periodicity. The sensitivity of the transmission to the dielectric filling of the aperture is also shown. The latter effect can be used to switch and control the transmittance. Devices based on enhanced transmission through nanosized apertures can find applications in high-density optical and magneto-optical data storage, high-resolution microscopy, and photolithography, where nanoscale light sources with high-optical-power throughput are required, as well as in sensor applications.     

Evanescently coupled resonance in surface plasmon enhanced transmission

The optical transmission through subwavelength holes in metal films can be enhanced by several orders of magnitude by enabling interaction of the incident light with independent surface plasmon (SP) modes on either side of the film. Here, we show that this transmission is boosted by an additional factor of 10 when the energies of the SP modes on both sides are matched. These results, confirmed by a three-dimensional theoretical analysis, give a totally new understanding of the phenomenon of SP enhanced transmission. It is found that the holes behave like subwavelength cavities for the evanescent waves coupling the SPs on either side of the film. In this unusual device, the reflection at either end of the cavity is provided by the SP modes which act as frequency dependent mirrors.     

阶梯型纳米孔径的近场光学局域增强特性研究

提出一种高分辨力与高通光效率兼备的阶梯型纳米孔径设计方法 ,孔径的尺寸从膜层的入射表面向出射表面呈阶梯型逐渐减小 ,直到在膜层的出射表面形成一个亚波长的小孔。采用三维时域有限差分 (FDTD)方法对方形阶梯型纳米孔径及三角形阶梯型纳米孔径进行了数值模拟计算。结果表明 ,由于近场光学很强的局域场增强效应 ,其通光效率与输出光强极大值在具有相同近场光斑尺寸情况下 ,较普通的非阶梯型纳米孔径提高了两个数量级 ,甚至更高 ,有效地提高了输出光功率。采用四台阶三角形阶梯型纳米孔径 ,当光斑半峰全宽为 97nm× 74nm时 ,出射光强极大值达到 10 4 9.76 ,较入射光增强了 10 0 0倍 ,而通光效率大于 1,达到 1.6 7。这种阶梯型纳米孔径可以直接作为纳米孔径激光器的出射孔径提高其输出光功率 ,也可以作为独立的光学屏对入射光进行整形得到具有高输出功率的亚波长尺度光源 ,在纳米尺度光学成像、光谱探测、数据存储、光刻、光学操作等近场光学应用领域具有潜在的应用前景。     

Finite Difference Time Domain Calculations Combined with Analytical Methods for Study of Near-Field Optical Probe

The finite difference time domain method is combined with eigenmode analysis of the waveguide and the Helmholtz-Kirchhoff integral to study the field distribution and the throughput of the near-field optical probe. This includes a waveguide, a Si substrate with A1 coating, and a subwavelength aperture. It is found that the optics inside the probe and the optical properties of the probe depend strongly on the field distribution of the incident light.     

Surface plasmon-polaritons wave fields in the vicinity of a metallic nanohole

It is shown that metal surface with a nanohole can support surface plasmon-polaritons (SPP), whose wave fields are described by Hankel functions. These plasmons can be excited by an electromagnetic wave incident at the metal surface. The optical transmission through subwavelength holes in metal films can essentially be enhanced by interaction of the incident light with surface plasmons. Dependence of excitation of the wave field of SPP on the incidence angle and on the wavelength of incident light is considered.     

Finite-difference time-domain studies of light transmission through nanohole structures

We present theoretical studies on the transmission of light through subwavelength, circular apertures surrounded by circular groove structures. Finite-difference time-domain equations in cylindrical coordinates are provided for both dispersive materials and electrical conductors. The nanohole systems are composed of a circular hole in a slab, that is encircled by sinusoidal grooves defined by a period and depth. Light transmission is found to be extremely sensitive to the hole size, groove period, and groove depth. We determine a set of groove parameters that optimize transmission. Enhancements in transmission by approximately a factor of four can be achieved for silver in the visible when compared to the light incident upon the hole. These results may find utility in the design of nanoscale light manipulating devices. PACS 73.20.Mf; 78.20.Ci; 78.68.+m; 64.47.-n; 03.50.De     

Experimental demonstration of near-field focusing of a phase micro-Fresnel zone plate (FZP) under linearly polarized illumination

A high numerical aperture binary phase micro-Fresnel zone plate (FZP) is designed and fabricated on a glass substrate by using a focused ion beam technique. Focusing characteristics of the phase micro-FZP are measured by a near-field scanning optical microscope using linearly polarized light as an illumination source. It is found that an asymmetric spot with subwavelength beam width and elongated depth of focus can be obtained from the phase micro-FZP. Furthermore, the measurement is shown to be consistent with the calculation result. Further, the tolerance in fabrication errors like tilt of side walls on focusing is discussed with numerical simulations.     

Near-field properties of diffraction through a circular subwavelength-size aperture

Analytical nonparaxial vectorial electric field expressions for both Gaussian beams and plane waves diffracted through a circular aperture are derived by using the vector plane angular spectrum method for the first time,which is suitable for the subwavelength aperture and the near-field region.The transverse properties of intensity distributions and their evolutions with the propagating distance,and the power transmission functions for diffracted fields containing the whole field,the evanescent field and the propagating field are investigated in detail,which is helpful for understanding the relationship between evanescent and propagating components in the near-field region and can be applied to apertured near-field scanning optical microscopy.     

Mie谐振耦合的亚波长金属孔宽带高透射传输

表面等离激元共振激发的亚波长金属孔透射较Bethe理论有大幅度的提高,然而,由于共振对频率的敏感性以及金属在光频的高损耗特性,表面等离激元共振难以实现亚波长金属孔的宽带高透射传输.本文采用放置在金属孔两边的硅纳米颗粒的Mie谐振耦合取代表面等离激元共振,实现亚波长金属孔的宽带高透射传输.全波仿真结果表明,采用Mie谐振耦合的亚波长金属孔(r/λ=0.1)光传输,透射系数超过90%的带宽达到65 nm,与表面等离激元共振诱导的透射增强相比,峰值增高了1.5倍,3 dB带宽拓宽了17倍.根据耦合模理论,建立了Mie谐振耦合亚波长金属孔透射的等效电路模型,并在临界耦合状态下反演出电路模型中的元件参数值.进一步研究发现,仅通过改变等效电路模型中的耦合系数,就可全面揭示Mie谐振耦合亚波长金属孔透射的传输规律,并得到与全波电磁仿真完全一致的结果,从而找到光与放置硅纳米颗粒的亚波长金属孔相互作用的数学表达,也给予人们在光学领域按照电路设计方法构建相应功能模块的启示.     

Transmission of an obliquely incident beam of light through small apertures in a metal film

We recently found that the intensity of the electric near field of a triangular aperture in a metal film is strongly localized at one edge of the aperture for incident light polarized perpendicular to this edge. Previous numerical calculations of the near field of a triangular aperture in a planar metal film, using the field susceptibility technique, yielded a nearly quantitative agreement with the experiments. Using this numerical technique, we have investigated the influence of an obliquely incident plane wave on the near field of small circular and triangular apertures. An interpretation of the numerical results leads to a deeper understanding of the way in which light transmission through the aperture is excited. The data suggest that after excitation of currents in the metal film by the incident light, a scattering of these currents by the aperture generates the near field of the aperture. We found that the excitation of small apertures (size <100 nm) is due to a tangential magnetic field whereas the perpendicular electric field plays no role. The excitation of a small aperture can thus be described exclusively by a magnetic polarizability. We found that for thin metal films an interference of the scattered field with the field transmitted through the metal film changes the near field pattern. PACS 41.20.-q; 42.79.Ag; 68.37.Uv; 78.67.-n     

Polarization effect of femtosecond pulse breakdown in subwavelength antireflective relief grating

The transmittance property and the near-field distribution of subwavelength broadband antireflective grating directly patterned into the wide bandgap dielectric material as a function of the surface period and groove depth are performed by a rigorous Fourier modal method. It is found that the transmittivity is insensitive for TE and TM polarization, but the near-field distribution associated with laser damage resistance ability is strongly dependent on polarization state of incident light. What's more, the femtosecond pulse laser damage threshold of surface structure taking into account local maximum electric field enhancement was calculated numerically using a theoretical ionization mechanism model. The higher threshold on the surface period, pulse duration and incident wavelength for TM polarization than that for TE wave is demonstrated quantitatively.     

Fluorescence enhancement from an array of subwavelength metal apertures

We report the resonant excitation of a fluorescing molecular monolayer applied to a periodic array of subwavelength apertures in a metal film. The peak fluorescence occurs under conditions of maximum transmission of the excitation light, which indicates strong enhancement of the incident light within the apertures under resonant conditions. Fluorescence output normalized to the aperture fill fraction is enhanced by nearly 40 times, and the rate of photobleaching is increased by approximately a factor of 2, suggesting an increase in the fluorescence yield.     

Imaging contrast under aperture tip–nanoantenna array interaction

Periodic arrays of paired and single gold nanorods were imaged in the near field using reflection and transmission modes of a near-field scanning optical microscope at various wavelengths and polarizations of light in the visible range. The paired nanorods act like nanoantenna, and an array of them was initially designed as a negative-index material for the near infrared. Reverse contrast in reflection and transmission images is observed under illumination from the small aperture of a metal-coated fiber probe. By changing the relative orientation of the rods to the polarization, the reverse contrast switches to the normal contrast of near-field imaging. Coupling between the aperture and the nanorod array makes the contrast higher. Transmission through the aperture is enhanced if the aperture probe is positioned between the nanorods. The average near-field transmission exhibits an opposite sign of anisotropy relative to the far-field case. Aperture probes with larger diameters always show normal imaging contrast. The results demonstrate that the broad angular spectra of small-aperture sources play a crucial role in near-field interactions with nanorod arrays. The results also show that angular redistributions of these spectra after transmission or reflection from the nanorod array are likely due to excitation of localized and propagating plasmons.     

Giant optical transmission of a subwavelength slit optimized using the magnetic field phase

In this Letter, we show that the energy equivalent to that incident on a 4.7 microm wide strip can be squeezed through a 50 nm wide slit in a metal film surrounded by grooves. This corresponds to a transmission efficiency of 9400%, which can be even further enhanced by increasing the number of grooves. We use the phase of the magnetic field to explain that the ideal slit-to-groove distance is just over half the plasmon wavelength. In addition, we also optimize the groove depth and width. Such optimized transmission enhancement is very important for near-field devices.     

Coherent plasmonic enhanced terahertz transmission through random metallic media

We experimentally show coherent, enhanced terahertz transmission through dense 3D random metallic media having subwavelength heterogeneity. Preservation of the incident polarization state and strong dispersion of the transmitted radiation indicate that the enhanced transmission is due to delocalized plasmonic propagation over distances 5 orders of magnitude greater than the skin depth. The experimental observations are supported by numerical finite difference time-domain simulations.     

Modeling of near-field optical diffraction from a subwavelength aperture in a thin conducting film

A theoretical model, novel to our knowledge, to investigate the near-field optical diffraction from a subwavelength aperture in a thin conducting film is presented. A governing equation for the magnetic field distribution in an optical thin film based on the power flow theorem is derived for the first time. Thus all of the components of the electric and magnetic fields inside or outside the thin film with a subwavelength aperture embedded can be obtained by applying the Hankel transform accurately. Numerical computations are performed to illustrate the edge effect by an enhancement factor of 2.2 and the depolarization phenomenon of the transmission in terms of the distance from the film surface.