Enhanced light transmission through cascaded metal films perforated with periodic hole arrays

We report experimental results on enhanced light transmission through two periodically perforated metal films separated by a layer of dielectric. A perforated metal film (single metallic structure) exhibits extraordinary optical transmission, and when two such perforated metal films are spaced by a dielectric layer (cascaded metallic structure), the transmission is further increased. The maximum transmission of the cascaded metallic structure, which depends on the distance between the two metal films, can be more than 400% greater than that of a corresponding single metallic structure. It is proposed that the coupling of surface plasmon polaritons between the two metal films is involved in the process.     

Control of optical transmission through metals perforated with subwavelength hole arrays

The transmission spectrum of a metal that is perforated with a periodic array of subwavelength holes exhibits well-defined maxima and minima resulting from, respectively, a transmission enhancement by surface plasmons and Wood's anomaly, a diffraction effect. These features occur at wavelengths determined by the geometry of the hole arrays, the refractive index of the adjacent medium, and the angle of incidence. We demonstrate control of the transmission through variation of these parameters and show that perforated metal films may form a novel basis for electro-optic devices such as flat-panel displays, spatial light modulators, and tunable optical filters.     

Visible light transmission properties of double metal thin gold films with sub-wavelength hole arrays

The transmission spectrum of linearly polarized visible light through double metal thin films perforated with nano-hole arrays is investigated and simulated by using the three dimensional finite-difference time-domain method. The results show that the transmission spectra can be controlled by changing the longitudinal interval G between films and, their lateral displacements L_x and L_y, which are parallel and perpendicular to the polarization direction of the incident light, respectively. We have two important peaks (due to guided mode and SP mode) in these spectrums. The variation in longitudinal distance results a wavelength shift in guided mode peak of transmission spectrum while the wavelength of SP mode peak remains fixed. The lateral displacement L_x leads to the higher transmission of the guided mode peak, while the lateral displacement L_y suppresses the transmission of this peak. Here we try to discuss the physical explanations of these spectral behaviours by surface plasmon waves on the metal films and by using the concepts of surface plasma (SP) and guided modes in our double metal structure.     

Optical transmission through metal/dielectric multilayer films perforated with periodic subwavelength slits

The transmission of p-polarized plane wave through Ag/SiO₂ multilayer films perforated with periodic subwavelength air slits is investigated by using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The results show that the optical transmission property is mediated by the interference among the propagating coupled-SPP modes along the lateral direction inside the SiO₂ layers and the conditions of Fabry-Pérot-like resonance along the longitudinal direction together. When some geometric parameters are suitably initialized, the high transmission peaks can split into more peaks as the functional layer (metal/dielectric/metal sandwich stack) number increases, and the wavelength of the same-order transmission peak exhibits a red shift as the grating period increases.     

Extraordinary light transmission through a metal film perforated by a subwavelength hole array

It is shown that, depending on the incident wave frequency and the system geometry, the extraordinary transmission of light through a metal film perforated by an array of subwavelength holes can be described by one of the three mechanisms: the “transparency window” in the metal, excitation of the Fabry–Perot resonance of a collective mode produced by the hybridization of evanescence modes of the holes and surface plasmons, and excitation of a plasmon on the rear boundary of the film. The excitation of a plasmon resonance on the front boundary of the metal film does not make any substantial contribution to the transmission coefficient, although introduces a contribution to the reflection coefficient.     

Control of extraordinary light transmission through perforated metal films using liquid crystals

We calculate the effective dielectric tensor of a metal film penetrated by cylindrical holes filled with a nematic liquid crystal (NLC). We assume that the director of the NLC is parallel to the film, and that its direction within the plane can be controlled by a static magnetic field, via the Freedericksz effect. To calculate the effective dielectric tensor, we consider both randomly distributed holes (using a Maxwell-Garnett approximation) and a square lattice of holes (using a Fourier technique). Both the holes and the lattice constant of the square lattice are assumed small compared to the wavelength. The films are found to exhibit extraordinary light transmission at special frequencies related to the surface plasmon resonances of the composite film. Furthermore, the frequencies of peak transmission are found to be substantially split when the dielectric in the holes is anisotropic. For typical NLC parameters, the splitting is of order 5–10% of the metal plasma frequency. Thus, the extraordinary transmission can be controlled by a static magnetic or electric field whose direction can be rotated to orient the director of the NLC. Finally, as a practical means of producing the NLC-filled holes, we consider the case where the entire perforated metal film is dipped into a pool of NLC, so that all the holes are filled with the NLC, and there are also homogeneous slabs of NLC on both sides of the film. The transmission in this geometry is shown to have similar characteristics to that in which the NLC-filled screen is placed in air.     

Role of shape in middle-infrared transmission enhancement through periodically perforated metal films

We report experimental results on the role of aperture shape in middle-infrared enhanced transmission through a metal film perforated with a periodic aperture array. The transmission spectrum is highly dependent on the aperture shape. When the aperture shape changes from circular to cross-dipole or the cross-dipole arm length increases, the transmission spectrum exhibits a large redshift. The enhanced transmission is proposed to be an interplay of surface plasmon polaritions at the metal surface and localized surface plasmons (LSPs) inside the apertures. The shift of the transmission bands is proposed to be due to the redshift of the LSP resonance spectrum of the individual apertures. The role of shape in enhanced transmission in the cascaded structure is also studied.     

Enhanced millimeter-wave transmission through subwavelength hole arrays

We explore, both experimentally and theoretically, the existence in the millimeter-wave range of the phenomenon of extraordinary light transmission through arrays of subwavelength holes. We have measured the transmission spectra of several samples made on aluminum wafers by use of an AB Millimetre quasi-optical vector network analyzer in the wavelength range 4.2-6.5 mm. Clear signals of the existence of resonant light transmission at wavelengths close to the period of the array appear in the spectra.     

Cavity resonant mode in a metal film perforated with two-dimensional triangular lattice hole arrays

The transmission property of metallic films with two-dimensional hole arrays is studied experimentally and numerically. For a triangular lattice subwavelength hole array in a 150 nm thick Ag film, both cavity resonance and planar surface modes are identified as the sources of enhanced optical transmissions. Semi-analytical models are developed for calculating the dispersion relation of the cavity resonant mode. They agree well with the experimental results and full-wave numerical calculations. Strong interaction between the cavity resonant mode and surface modes is also observed.     

Theory of extraordinary optical transmission through subwavelength hole arrays

We present a fully three-dimensional theoretical study of the extraordinary transmission of light through subwavelength hole arrays in optically thick metal films. Good agreement is obtained with experimental data. An analytical minimal model is also developed, which conclusively shows that the enhancement of transmission is due to tunneling through surface plasmons formed on each metal-dielectric interface. Different regimes of tunneling (resonant through a "surface plasmon molecule," or sequential through two isolated surface plasmons) are found depending on the geometrical parameters defining the system.     

The influence of hole shape on enhancing transmission through subwavelength hole arrays

The extraordinary light transmission through a 200-nm thick gold film when passing through different subwavelength hole arrays is observed experimentally. The sample is fabricated by electron beam lithography and reactive ion etching system. A comparison between light transmissions shows that the hole shape changing from rectangular to diamond strongly affects the transmission intensity although both structures possess the same lattice constant of 600,nm. Moreover, the position of the transmission maximum undergoes a spectral red-shift of about 63,nm. Numerical simulations by using a transfer matrix method reproduce the observed transmission spectrum quite well.     

基于金属孔阵列的聚酰亚胺薄膜太赫兹探测

优化设计了多种不同孔径和形状的太赫兹波段的亚波长金属孔阵列结构,结合超薄低折射率的聚酰亚胺（PI）薄膜,探索了太赫兹时域光谱技术对超薄低折射率的探测灵敏性。利用飞秒微加工技术制备了一系列亚波长金属孔阵列结构,利用太赫兹时域光谱技术测试了阵列结构的反射波谱,获得了强烈的反射共振现象。然后在亚波长金属孔阵列结构背面叠加PI薄膜,结果表明太赫兹反射峰出现了显著低频移动现象。利用这一现象,实现了低至10 m的PI薄膜的有效探测,说明亚波长金属孔阵列结构在太赫兹传感领域对检测超薄低折射率薄膜材料有极强敏感性。收稿日期:; 修订日期:     

基于金属孔阵列的聚酰亚胺薄膜太赫兹探测

优化设计了多种不同孔径和形状的太赫兹波段的亚波长金属孔阵列结构,结合超薄低折射率的聚酰亚胺（PI）薄膜,探索了太赫兹时域光谱技术对超薄低折射率的探测灵敏性。利用飞秒微加工技术制备了一系列亚波长金属孔阵列结构,利用太赫兹时域光谱技术测试了阵列结构的反射波谱,获得了强烈的反射共振现象。然后在亚波长金属孔阵列结构背面叠加PI薄膜,结果表明太赫兹反射峰出现了显著低频移动现象。利用这一现象,实现了低至10 m的PI薄膜的有效探测,说明亚波长金属孔阵列结构在太赫兹传感领域对检测超薄低折射率薄膜材料有极强敏感性。收稿日期:; 修订日期:     

二维亚波长金属小孔阵列的透射光增强效应

对金属薄膜上的二维亚波长小孔阵列的光透射增强现象进行了数值模拟，结果显示不仅实际金属薄膜上的小孔阵列结构具有透射增强效应，理想导体薄膜的相同结构也具有透射增强效应，但没有实际金属薄膜的增强明显-通过分析指出，这种小孔阵列的光透射增强效应是一种复杂的波导耦合效应-与金属薄膜上的表面电流一样，表面等离激元波具有将入射光能量从金属表面向小孔转移的作用，但不是透射增强的本质原因- 关键词： 表面电流 共振耦合 透射增强 表面等离激元     

Surface-plasmon-polariton-induced suppressed transmission through ultrathin metal disk arrays

We report surface-plasmon-polariton-induced suppressed transmission through two-dimensional arrays of isolated metal disks with a thickness comparable to optical skin depth of the metal. A transmittance dip of -17.5 dB is achieved at the resonant wavelength of 1524 nm, compared to -12 dB for closed film. Coupling the light into the surface-plasmon polariton results in enhanced absorption, which is potentially interesting in solar cell applications.     

Origin of superenhanced light transmission through two-dimensional subwavelength rectangular hole arrays

Superenhanced light transmission through subwavelength rectangular hole arrays have been reported and some investigations have been made into the physical origin of this phenomenon [K.J. Klein Koerkamp et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 183901 (2004)]. In our current work, by performing FDTD (finite difference in the time domain) numerical simulations, we demonstrate that mechanism that is different from surface plasmon polaritons set up by the periodicity at the in-plane metal surfaces may account for this superenhanced light transmission. We suggest that for arrays of rectangular holes with small enough width in comparison to the wavelength of the incident light, standing electromagnetic fields can be set up inside the cavity by the surface plasmons on the hole walls with its intensity being substantially enhanced inside the cavity. So resonant cavity-enhanced light transmission is predominant and responsible for its superenhanced light transmission. Rectangular holes behave as Fabry-Pérot resonance cavities except that the frequency of their fundamental modes is restricted by their TM cutoff frequency. However we believe that both localized surface plasmon modes and surface plasmon polaritons set up by the periodicity at the in-plane metal surfaces have their shares in extraordinary optical transmission of rectangular hole arrays especially when the width of the rectangular hole is not small enough and the metal film is not thick enough.     

Tunable optical transmission through gold hole arrays with converging and diverging shaped channels

We investigate the extraordinary light transmission through gold hole arrays with converging–diverging, diverging–converging, and converging shaped channels by using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. We find that the resonance wavelength and intensity of each type of hole array are sensitive to the aperture size and unit number of the converging or diverging shape unit in the channels. We show that transmission behaviors are noticeably different for the gold hole arrays with such three different types of channel shapes. The resonant characteristics of the gold hole arrays with shaped channels have a number of important device applications, including filters, modulators and sensors.     

Anomalous transmission of electromagnetic wave through periodic arrays of subwavelength slits arranged on thin metal films

We study the optical properties of periodic structures, each of which consists of arrays of subwavelength slits in thick films that are placed directly against a continuous thin film. We find that the transmittance of the entire system including the thin film is higher than the transmittance of the isolated thin film alone. Our investigations are performed through numerical simulations with the Fourier modal method.     

Extraordinary optical transmission in the ultraviolet region through aluminum hole arrays

We investigated the extraordinary optical transmission phenomenon in the UV range by fabricating large-area, free-standing aluminum hole arrays using extreme UV interference lithography and shadow thermal evaporation. Transmission spectra show strong peaks in the UV region resulting from both surface plasmon polariton and localized surface plasmon excitations. The results indicate that the high plasmon frequency of Al is directly responsible for the presence of strong resonance peaks in the UV region, which supports the role of plasmonic phenomena in the extraordinary transmission. The simple fabrication method enables large-area production of such structures for research and industrial production purposes.