Open AccessA subwavelength slit as a quarter-wave retarder
Author(s) -
P.F. Chimento,
Nikolay V. Kuzmin,
Johan Bosman,
Paul F. A. Alkemade,
G. W. ’t Hooft,
E. R. Eliel
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.19.024219
Subject(s) - slit , optics , birefringence , surface plasmon , materials science , polarization (electrochemistry) , retarder , wavelength , extraordinary optical transmission , perpendicular , dichroism , waveplate , excitation , surface plasmon polariton , plasmon , physics , laser , quantum mechanics , chemistry , geometry , mathematics , composite material
We have experimentally studied the polarization-dependent transmission properties of a nanoslit in a gold film as a function of its width. The slit exhibits strong birefringence and dichroism. We find, surprisingly, that the transmission of the polarization parallel to the slit only disappears when the slit is much narrower than half a wavelength, while the transmission of the perpendicular component is reduced by the excitation of surface plasmons. We exploit the slit's dichroism and birefringence to realize a quarter-wave retarder.
Accelerating Research
Robert Robinson Avenue,
Oxford Science Park, Oxford
OX4 4GP, United Kingdom
Address
John Eccles HouseRobert Robinson Avenue,
Oxford Science Park, Oxford
OX4 4GP, United Kingdom