Open AccessEnhanced optical transmission at the cutoff transition
Author(s) -
E. Laux,
Cyriaque Genet,
Thomas W. Ebbesen
Publication year - 2009
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.17.006920
Subject(s) - optics , transmission (telecommunications) , extraordinary optical transmission , resonance (particle physics) , surface plasmon , interference (communication) , cutoff , excitation , physics , total internal reflection , attenuation , transmission coefficient , materials science , waveguide , surface plasmon polariton , plasmon , atomic physics , telecommunications , channel (broadcasting) , quantum mechanics , computer science
The phenomenon of extraordinary transmission in the optical regime for circular hole arrays in optically thick metal films is studied as a function of hole size and depth. In the limit of small holes compared to the depth, the transmission properties follow a waveguide type behavior. By describing the transmission process as resulting from the interference between a resonant and a non-resonant contribution, a transition is clearly revealed through the specific spectral variations of the resonance at a given hole depth. This transition is associated to a change in the attenuation through the hole as its size increases, and corresponds to the optimal condition for surface plasmon excitation.