Open AccessBeaming Visible Light with a Plasmonic Aperture Antenna
Author(s) -
Jun Yi,
Aurélien Cuche,
Éloïse Devaux,
Cyriaque Genet,
Thomas W. Ebbesen
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
acs photonics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.735
H-Index - 89
ISSN - 2330-4022
DOI - 10.1021/ph400146n
Subject(s) - optics , diffraction , plasmon , aperture (computer memory) , physics , antenna (radio) , antenna aperture , directivity , near and far field , fresnel diffraction , wavelength , surface plasmon , radiation pattern , optoelectronics , telecommunications , computer science , acoustics
We investigate experimentally the parameter space defining, in the visible range, the far-field diffraction properties of a single circular subwavelength aperture surrounded by periodic circular grooves milled on a metallic film. Diffraction patterns emerging from such an antenna are recorded under parallel- and perpendicular-polarized illumination at a given illumination wavelength. By monitoring the directivity and the gain of the antenna with respect to a single aperture, we point out the role played by the near-field surface plasmon excitations. The results can be analyzed through a Huygens-Fresnel model, accounting for the coherent interaction between the field radiated by the hole and the plasmonic field, propagating along the antenna surface and diffracted away in free space.