Negative role of surface plasmons in the transmission of metallic gratings with very narrow slits

It is generally admitted that the extraordinary transmission of metallic grating with very narrow slits is mainly due to the excitation of surface plasmons on the upper and lower interfaces of the grating. We show that the surface plasmon contribution is not the prime effect and that waveguide mode resonance and diffraction are responsible for the extraordinary transmission. Additionally and surprisingly, we reveal that the transmittance of subwavelength metallic gratings is always nearly zero for frequencies corresponding to surface plasmon excitation. This finding implies that surface plasmons play a negative role in the transmission.     

Resonant Effects of FPL and SPP for Light Transmitting through Subwavelength Metallic Gratings

A new model is proposed to explain the physical mechanism of the extraordinary transmission enhancement in subwavelength metallic grating. The extraordinary transmission enhancement is described by the co-operation of Fabry-Perot-like (FPL) resonance and the surface plasmon polariton (SPP) resonance. The rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA) and the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method are employed to illustrate the model by calculating the transmission and the field distributions in the subwavelength metallic grating, respectively. And the numerical calculations show that transmission enhancement is achieved when the coupling resonance of the incident light, the surface plasmon polariton mode and the Fabry-Perot-Like mode is happened, which are in good agreement with the proposed model.     

THz surface plasmon jump between two metal edges

We excite surface plasmon in the THz frequency range at a metal surface using a diffraction grating coupler. Then the excited surface plasmon propagates along the flat metal surface, scatters into free space at the sample edge and then couples onto the flat surface of a second device similar to the emitting one. Using THz time-domain spectroscopy, we study plasmon propagation and its coupling processes in time and frequency domains. We measure a surface plasmon propagation length, at a flat air-aluminum interface, smaller than expected. We report for the first time a high coupling efficiency of the THz surface plasmon field between the two grating devices separated by a several centimeters-thick air gap.     

Understanding fractional-order surface plasmons

We show experimentally that diffraction-induced surface plasmon excitation can mimic enhanced transmission and cause a highly sensitive modulation by the coherent interference between zero-order and reflected first-order diffraction in select regions of the terahertz spectrum. Based on the study of a one-dimensional metallic grating, we obtain the physical mechanisms of the fractional-order surface plasmon resonances observed with the two-dimensional grating of the metallic hole array.     

All-optical switching of the transmission of electromagnetic radiation through subwavelength apertures

Unprecedented optical control of the surface plasmon polariton assisted transmission of terahertz radiation through subwavelength apertures is rendered possible by carrier-induced changes to the dielectric properties of a semiconductor grating. Although the study presented is static, the extension of our approach to dynamic switching and tuning is deemed straightforward, opening the way for the realization of ultrafast surface plasmon based devices.     

Extraordinary optical transmission through metal gratings with single and double grooved surfaces

We investigate the transmission properties of a normally incident TM plane wave through metal films with periodic parabolic-shaped grooves on single and double surfaces using the finite-difference-time-domain method. Nearly zero transmission efficiency is found at wavelengths corresponding to surface plasmon excitation on a flat surface in the case where the single surface is grooved. Meanwhile, resonant excitation of surface plasmon polariton (SPP) Bloch modes leads to a strong transmission peak at slightly larger wavelengths. When the grating is grooved on double surfaces, the transmission enhancement can be dramatically improved due to the resonant tunnelling between SPP Bloch modes.     

金属光栅的非对称透射现象研究

提出一种利用表面等离子体耦合的金属光栅结构,该光栅结构因入射光的方向和耦合表面等离子体的条件不同,从不同方向入射时会有不同的透射率。周期为500 nm、填充因子为0.7的Au-SiO₂光栅结构在565~589 nm波段具有单向透射性。当填充因子为0.662时,最大透射对比率达3×10⁴。当光栅厚度为60 nm时,入射波长在570~630 nm之间的透射对比率均可达到5以上,最高透射率为43%。当光栅周期为1 100 nm时,1 530~1 590 nm波段的透射对比率均大于5,可以满足中红外波段的应用。     

Design of Highly Sensitive Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensors Using Planar Metallic Films Closely Coupled to Nanogratings

We investigate the sensitivity enhancement of surface plasmon resonance （SPR） sensors using planar metallic films closely coupled to nanogratings. The strong coupling between localized surface plasmon resonances （LSPRs） presenting in metallic nanostructures and surface plasmon polaritons （SPPs） propagating at the metallic film surface leads to changes of resonance reflection properties, resulting in enhanced sensitivity of SPR sensors. The effects of thickness of the metallic films, grating period and metal materials on the refractive index sensitivity of the device are investigated. The refractive index sensitivity of nanograting-based SPR sensors is predicted to be about 543 nm/RIU （refractive index unit） using optimized structure parameters. Our study on SPR sensors using planar metallic films closely coupled to nanogratings demonstrates the potential for significant improvement in refractive index sensitivity.     

基于表面等离子体共振增强的硅基锗金属-半导体-金属光电探测器的设计研究

金属-半导体-金属光电探测器的光栅结构可激发表面等离子体, 有效增强探测器的吸收. 为深入研究器件结构对于表面等离子体的激发及共振增强的影响, 本文提出了一种具有超薄有源层的硅基锗金属-半导体-金属光电探测器的设计方法. 采用时域有限差分的方法详细分析了光栅周期、光栅厚度、 光栅间距及有源层厚度对于表面等离子体共振增强器件性能的影响, 通过仿真模拟获得了器件的最佳结构, 详细地分析了各个界面激发的表面等离子体及其共振模式对于光谱吸收增强的机理. 仿真结果表明, 有源层锗的厚度为400nm的超薄器件在通信波段具有较高的吸收, 尤其在1550nm波长处器件的归一化的光谱吸收率可以高达53.77%, 增强因子达7.22倍. 利用共振效应能够极大地提高高速器件的光电响应, 为解决光电探测器响应度与响应速度之间的相互制约关系提供了有效途径. 关键词： 表面等离子体 锗探测器 时域有限差分仿真     

Enhancement of extraction efficiency by metallic photonic crystal embedding in light-emitting diode

The bandgap effect of photonic crystals (PCs) and the effect of grating diffraction can be used to improve the extraction efficiency of light from the light-emitting diode (LED). The transmission of light at certain wavelength through periodic sub-wavelength hole arrays in metal films is extraordinary, surface plasmon (SP) effects effectively. In this letter, silver metallic photonic crystals with square lattice of cylinder unit cells are fabricated in GaN layer of GaN-based blue LED. We use the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method to investigate the optical transmission, the results show that the light extraction efficiency is enhanced by more than four times. Then we use the surface plasmon dispersion relation to analyze the mechanism of antireflection.     

金属-介质光栅结构表面等离子体耦合效率的模拟研究

表面等离子体可以将光子局域在金属表面附近, 并形成很强的近场能量密度, 可以大大提高金属表面附近分子的发光效率和光电转换吸收材料的利用率, 从而提高发光器件和光电转换器件的效率. 本文研究了在一维周期性金属-介质混合结构的光栅中表面等离子体激元的耦合条件, 给出了耦合效率随着结构和填充因子的变化, 并证明了在光栅的填充因子较高以至光栅的金属间隔较小时, 光子耦合成为表面等离子体的效率较高, 可以达到94%以上. 关键词： 表面等离子体激元 填充因子 光栅 吸收光谱     

Experimental study of transmission enhancement of evanescent waves through silver films assisted by surface plasmon excitation

In this paper, we investigated an essential precursor of superlensing: enhancing the transmission of evanescent waves assisted by excitation of surface plasmon. Using natural roughness as a well characterized grating, the transmission of evanescent waves is studied through silver thin films of increasing thickness. Measurements and calculations are performed in the wavelength range of 514.5 nm to 351.1 nm where the real part of the permittivity of silver is negative. Pronounced peaks due to surface-plasmon excitations are observed in the transmission spectra. We found the transmission of evanescent waves rapidly grows with the film thickness up to about 50 nm, after which it decays as loss becomes significant. As the permittivity of a silver slab approaches -1, we experimentally observed a broadening of surface plasmon bandwidth. Our study indicates a pathway to access the deep subwavelength features by metamaterial superlens. PACS 42.79-e; 42.30.Wb; 78.20.Ci; 78.66.Bz     

The effect of the Kerr nonlinearity on the transmission through the nanoslit gold film

This paper has made a theoretical study of enhanced transmission through a gold grating with arrays of subwavelength slits filled with nonlinear Kerr medium. The results of the research are based on rigorous finite-difference time domain calculations. The resonance transmission peaks in the investigated wavelength range are produced as a result of the surface plasmon resonance collaborated with the localized waveguide resonance. The paper also gives a detailed analysis of the influence exerted by various fa...     

Adjustable plasmon resonances through an H-shaped metallic grating

We propose an H-shaped metallic grating and investigate its surface plasmon resonance properties. The result shows the formation process of the transmission spectra of the H-shaped grating by adjusting the depths of the arm cuts, and a band gap is formed on the region of short wavelength. It is also presented that the transmission of the H-shaped grating sensitively depends on the width and position of the arm slit, noticeable magnitude modification, redshift and blueshift, meld and split of the resonance peaks are found. In addition, the resonance peaks exhibit dips in the transmission spectrum when the two slit widths are different, and the dips are tunable by changing any one slit width for fixed another slit. To understand its physical origin, a field-interference mechanism, the Fabry–Pérot-like resonance theory and the phase resonance mechanism have been suggested, respectively. By selecting appropriate structural parameters, an H-shaped metallic grating for optical filter and channel selecting devices can be constructed.     

Self-collimation of surface plasmon beams

We generate self-collimating surface plasmon beams in a doubly periodic plasmonic grating. The self-collimation effect is understood from the local anisotropy of the isofrequency surface of the grating in the vicinity of the bandgap. The properties of the beams are analyzed by leakage radiation microscopy and show to an unprecedented level significantly reduced diffraction as compared with plasmon beams propagating on a flat metal film.     

Transmission characteristics of a microscale dielectric slab waveguide device with a deep groove and an embedded metallodielectric grating at low terahertz frequency

We discuss the transmission characteristics of a microscale dielectric waveguide device with a deep groove and an embedded metallodielectric grating illuminated by a continuous wave of TM and TE modes at low terahertz frequency. To study its performance we solve numerically the corresponding Maxwell equations by means of finite difference time domain method with uniaxial perfectly match layer as its boundary condition. By varying the angle of incident, grating filling factor and refractive index of analyte in the deep groove, it is found that the device exhibits a significant transmission enhancement for the TM mode due to the existence of surface plasmon interaction. We also demonstrate its potential application as a biosensor device.     

Four-step pulses of fractional-order surface plasmons

The 0-order transmission of a 1D metallic grating, on a high-resistivity silicon wafer in optical contact with a silicon plate, has been characterized by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy with subpicosecond resolution over a 400 ps scan range. Two new long-time-delay, powerful pulses are observed after the second reflected pulse. In the frequency domain, these two strong and fast-ringing structures correspond to the bandwidth ranges between the [0, 1] and [0, 2] surface plasmon modes and the range above [0, 2], respectively. A physical optics ray analysis provides an intuitive understanding of these new four-step (reflection, diffraction, total reflection, and diffraction) pulses, caused by fractional-order surface plasmon type beam coupling.     

Terahertz transmission characteristics of double wire-grid polarizer on low-loss polyethylene substrate

We fabricated a double metallic wire-grid polarizer consisting of micrometer-pitch Cu grating on both sides of low-loss polyethylene substrate by simple electroplating and lithography micro-processing techniques. The performance of transmission was measured using a terahertz (THz) time domain spectroscopy system. The mixed polarization effects of surface plasmon polaritons in an azimuthally rotated grating were investigated. The polarization dependence of both amplitude and phase shift on frequency was demonstrated in the wide range of 0.1?C3 THz, and the extinction ratio is over 22 dB.     

Anomalous transmission of terahertz wave through one-dimensional lamellar metallic grating

The anomalous transmission through one-dimensional lamellar metallic gratings was investigated in terahertz (THz) regime. The extraordinary optical transmission (EOT) is identified to originate from two possible ways: coupling of incident light with waveguide resonances and coupling of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) at the upper and lower interfaces of metal grating. The dual effects of SPPs have been clarified in this study: (i) the excitation of SPP modes at each individual interface results in the weakness of the THz wave transmission; and (ii) the coupling of SPP modes at two interfaces of metal grating is attributed to enhancement of THz wave transmission. The enhanced transmission is dominated by the coupling of incident light with transverse waveguide resonances. Numerical simulation based on finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) agrees well with experimental results.     

等离激元增强的石墨烯光吸收

石墨烯中等离激元具有特殊的光电性质,其和入射光的强烈耦合可以引起光吸收的增强.本文基于时域有限差分法和多体自洽场理论研究了等离激元对处于光学谐振腔中的石墨烯光吸收的影响.由于石墨烯中等离激元与入射光动量和能量不匹配而不能直接相互作用,因此石墨烯上施加了金属光栅结构.研究发现光栅结构能够对入射光进行动量补偿并且能够引起其下石墨烯中的电场强度产生很大程度增强,从而导致在该石墨烯结构中太赫兹等离激元和入射光发生强烈耦合而产生太赫兹等离极化激元,同时引起石墨烯光吸收的增强.希望本文能够加深对石墨烯光电特性的理解以及可以为基于石墨烯的太赫兹光电装置提供一定的理论依据.