Mechanism of enhancing output power of plasmonic very-small-aperture lasers

Light transmission through a single subwavelength slit surrounded by periodic grooves in layered films consisting of Au and dielectric material is analyzed by the finite difference time domain method in two dimensions. The results show that the transmission field can be enhanced by the corrugations on the output plane, which is a supplementary explanation for the extraordinary optical transmission. PACS 78.20.-e; 78.20.Bh; 78.20.Ci; 78.70.-g     

Enhanced optical transmission through a subwavelength 1D aperture

We present finite difference time domain simulations of the enhancement of the optical transmission through a single subwavelength slit in a thick metal film caused by resonances of the electromagnetic fields in and near the slit. These can be enhanced by including a periodic modulation on the in-coupling surface, and the dependence of the transmission on the grating structural parameters is analysed in detail.     

Terahertz near-field imaging using subwavelength plasmonic apertures and a quantum cascade laser source

The first demonstration, to our knowledge, of near-field imaging using subwavelength plasmonic apertures with a terahertz quantum cascade laser source is presented. "Bull's-eye" apertures, featuring subwavelength circular apertures flanked by periodic annular corrugations were created using a novel fabrication method. A fivefold increase in intensity was observed for plasmonic apertures over plain apertures of the same diameter. Detailed studies of the transmitted beam profiles were undertaken for apertures with both planarized and corrugated exit facets, with the former producing spatially uniform intensity profiles and subwavelength spatial resolution. Finally, a proof-of-concept imaging experiment is presented, where an inhomogeneous pharmaceutical drug coating is investigated.     

Theory of resonant acoustic transmission through subwavelength apertures

A complete landscape is presented of the acoustic transmission properties of subwavelength apertures (slits and holes). First, we study the emergence of Fabry-Perot resonances in single apertures. When these apertures are placed in a periodic fashion, a new type of transmission resonance appears in the spectrum. We demonstrate that this resonance stems from the excitation of an acoustic guided wave that runs along the plate, which hybridizes strongly with the Fabry-Perot resonances associated with waveguide modes in single apertures. A detailed discussion of the similarities and differences with the electromagnetic case is also given.     

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.     

Transmission through array of subwavelength metallic slits curved with a single step or mutli-step

The transmission of normally incident plane wave through an array of subwavelength metallic slits curved with a sin- gle step or mutli-step has been explored theoretically. The transmission spectrum is simulated by using the finite-difference time-domain method. The influences of surface plasmon polaritons make the end of finite long sub-wavelength metallic slit behaves as magnetic-reflecting barrier. The electromagnetic fields in the subwavelength metallic slits are the superpo- sition of standing wave and traveling wave. The standing electromagnetic oscillation behaves like LC oscillating circuit to decide the resonance wavelength. Therefore, the parameters of adding step may change the LC circuit and influence the transmission wavelength. A new explanation model is proposed in which the resonant wavelength is decided by four factors： the changed length for electric field, the changed length for magnetic field, the effective coefficient of capacitance, and the effective coefficient of inductance. The effect of adding step is presented to analyze the interaction of two steps in slit with mutli-step. This explanation model has been proved by the transmission through arrayed subwavelength metallic slits curved with two steps and fractal steps. All calculated results are well explained by our proposed model.     

金属薄膜亚波长近场成像特性研究

采用基于等离子体物理模型的时域有限差分方法模拟了金属薄膜近场成像特性;采用薄膜传输矩阵方法计算了金属薄膜对倏逝波分量的放大作用.实现了周期为1μm的Cr光栅的成像实验,验证了平板金属薄膜的模拟成像特性. 关键词： 时域有限差分 金属薄膜 近场亚波长成像 传输矩阵方法     

Guided-Wave Characteristics with Periodic Dielectric Waveguides of Finite Length

A novel network approach is proposed to analyze periodic dielectric waveguide of finite length. Our approximate analysis is to consider a bounded waveguide problem in which perfectly-conducting walls are introduced, and the periodic corrugation is regarded as consisting of step discontinuities connected by a length of uniform slab waveguide. Application of conservation of complex power technique (CCPT) allows us to take into account of both surface modes and only a few non-surface-modes, and readily derive propagation characteristics of the wave-guide with finite periodic corrugations around Bragg interaction region.     

Role of interference between localized and propagating surface waves on the extraordinary optical transmission through a subwavelength-aperture array

We report in this Letter that when radiation is incident on a metal surface perforated with an array of ring-shaped subwavelength apertures, the phase difference between the propagating surface Bloch wave and the localized surface wave can be tailored by the geometrical parameters of the array so as to affect the shape of the transmission spectrum. Above the resonant frequency of the aperture, interference between the two kinds of surface waves leads to a minimum in the transmission spectrum, whereas below it, the interference leads to a maximum. We suggest that this feature provides flexibility in engineering surface-wave-based all-optical devices.     

Subwavelength imaging enhancement through a three-dimensional plasmon superlens with rough surface

In this Letter we investigate the subwavelength imaging of a three-dimensional plasmon superlens based on the full vector wave simulations of optical wave propagation and transmission. The optical transfer functions are computed. Comparisons are made between the results of lenses with flat and periodic/random rough surfaces. We also study the problem of practical imaging system geometry using laser as an illumination source. Results show that the lens with periodic or random roughness can reduce the field interference effects, and provide improved focus on the transmission field and the Poynting flux. We illustrate that the subwavelength roughness in a plasmon lens can enhance the image resolution over a flat lens for both matched and unmatched permittivity conditions. The enhancement of resolution occurs because the introduced subwavelength roughness can amplify the evanescent wave components and suppress the surface plasmon resonance peaks.     

Exact wave-based Bloch analysis procedure for investigating wave propagation in two-dimensional periodic lattices

This paper presents an exact, wave-based approach for determining Bloch waves in two-dimensional periodic lattices. This is in contrast to existing methods which employ approximate approaches (e.g., finite difference, Ritz, finite element, or plane wave expansion methods) to compute Bloch waves in general two-dimensional lattices. The analysis combines the recently introduced wave-based vibration analysis technique with specialized Bloch boundary conditions developed herein. Timoshenko beams with axial extension are used in modeling the lattice members. The Bloch boundary conditions incorporate a propagation constant capturing Bloch wave propagation in a single direction, but applied to all wave directions propagating in the lattice members. This results in a unique and properly posed Bloch analysis. Results are generated for the simple problem of a periodic bi-material beam, and then for the more complex examples of square, diamond, and hexagonal honeycomb lattices. The bi-material beam clearly introduces the concepts, but also allows the Bloch wave mode to be explored using insight from the technique. The square, diamond, and hexagonal honeycomb lattices illustrate application of the developed technique to two-dimensional periodic lattices, and allow comparison to a finite element approach. Differences are noted in the predicted dispersion curves, and therefore band gaps, which are attributed to the exact procedure more-faithfully modeling the finite nature of lattice connection points. The exact method also differs from approximate methods in that the same number of solution degrees of freedom is needed to resolve low frequency, and arbitrarily high frequency, dispersion branches. These advantageous features may make the method attractive to researchers studying dispersion characteristics, band gap behavior, and energy propagation in two-dimensional periodic lattices.     

Localized surface plasmons-based transmission enhancement of terahertz radiation through metal aperture arrays

The extraordinary transmission spectrum of a copper film pierced by a periodic array of subwavelength rectangular holes is measured by the terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. The transmission coefficient is strongly dependent on the angle between the polarization of terahertz electric field and the latitudinal direction of the periodic apertures. When the angle increases from 0^o to 90^o, a peak becomes stronger and another peak reduces. The transmission is proposed to be the contributions of localized surface plasmons inside the apertures. The finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) simulation results are in good agreement with experimental observations.     

Plasmonic quarter-wave plate

Here we present a strategy for designing wave plates utilizing resonances of subwavelength apertures in metallic films. Specifically, we show that it is possible to tune the geometry in a periodic array of cross-shaped apertures in a silver film to produce a quarter-wave plate at a particular wavelength in the near-infrared. This is achieved by introducing an asymmetry into the lengths of the arms of the crosses.     

Modal analysis of deep-etched low-contrast two-port beam splitter grating

Modal analysis of a deep-etched low-contrast two-port beam splitter grating under Littrow mounting is presented. The guideline for the design of a subwavelength transmission fused-silica phase grating as high-efficiency grating, polarizing beam splitter (PBS), and two-port beam splitter, is summarized. As an example, a polarization-independent two-port beam splitter grating is designed at wavelength of 1064 nm. We firstly analyzed the physical essence of the grating by the simplified modal method. The guideline for the grating design and the approximate grating parameters are obtained. Then using the rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA) with parameters varying around the approximate ones, optimum grating parameters can be determined. With the design guideline, the time for the rigorous calculation of the grating profile parameters can be reduced significantly.     

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.     

Role of surface plasmon polaritons in anomalous transmission of an electromagnetic wave through two arrays with subwavelength slits

The anomalously large transmission of an electromagnetic wave through structures consisting of two periodic arrays of subwavelength slits in films has been investigated. The conditions ensuring zero transmittance of this system have been determined. The role of surface plasmon polaritons in transmission anomalies has been analyzed. An analysis of the systems consisting of three arrays of slits has revealed specific features of the transmittance that are independent of the number of slits. It has been demonstrated that, at a wavelength corresponding to the excitation of a surface plasmon polariton in the gap between two periodic arrays of subwavelength slits, the transmittance is zero (i.e., transmission is suppressed). The investigation has been carried out using numerical simulations with the Fourier modal method.     

圆孔非线性声阻抗三维时域仿真与特性分析

为研究有限振幅声波作用下圆孔的非线性声学特性,提出了基于三维时域计算流体动力学(CFD)仿真的圆孔非线性声阻抗提取方法,通过求解层流方程来模拟声信号在圆孔及上下游的传播,以及采用横向周期性边界条件来考虑高穿孔率时圆孔之间相互作用的影响。研究了不同幅值声波作用下孔径、厚度和穿孔率对声阻抗的影响规律,通过对质点振速幅值、频率和板厚等组成的无量纲参量进行非线性回归分析,得到了圆孔非线性声阻抗的拟合公式,并将其转换为可考虑多频声波影响的时域模型。最后结合声阻抗时域模型和有限差分方法计算了直通穿孔管消声器在小振幅和有限振幅声波作用下的传递损失,通过与实验测量结果的比较,验证了拟合公式的准确性和实用性。     

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.     

Enhanced optical reflection and multiple-peak transmission from a subwavelength slit with surface corrugations

We have observed a new phenomenon of the enhanced optical reflection and transmission from a subwavelength metallic slit with surface corrugations. The reflected energy is focused by the periodic structure and our experiment shows that it is more effective than a planar metal surface in real situations. The transmission spectrum performs the feature of a multipeak narrow-band transmission with a wavelength spacing of 1.4 nm resulting from the FP cavity resonance in the substrate film. Such optical response properties of our sample will be very useful for applications in many fields including wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) optical communications systems.