Finite-Difference Time-Domain Analysis of the Interaction of Gaussian Evanescent Light with a Single Dielectric Sphere or Ordered Dielectric Spheres

The interaction of gaussian evanescent light with a single dielectric sphere or ordered dielectric spheres in an attenuated total reflection (ATR) geometry was analyzed by the finite-difference time-domain method. Various aspects of this interaction were investigated in terms of spatial visualizations of light intensity, reflectance vs. wavelength characteristics, the transient behavior of reflectances, and so forth. In the case of a single sphere, it was evident that the whispering gallery mode can be excited in ATR geometries, but such excitation cannot be easily confirmed only through the observation of wavelength-scanned ATR spectra. In the case of a closely packed two-dimensional array of dielectric spheres, it was found that an easy axis and also a difficult axis for light propagation exist.This paper was originally presented at the 5th International Conference on NEAR FIELD OPTICS and RELATED TECHNOLOGIES (NFO-5), which was held on December 6–10, 1998 at Coganoi Bay Hotel, Shirahama, Japan, in cooperation with the Japan Society of Applied Phisics and Mombusho Grantin Aid for Scientific Research on Priority Areas “Near-field Nano-optics” Project, sponsored by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.