Open AccessLight trapping cavity enhanced light transmission through a single sub-wavelength aperture in a metal film
Author(s) -
Juuso Olkkonen
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.17.023992
Subject(s) - opacity , optics , materials science , aperture (computer memory) , monochromatic color , wavelength , extraordinary optical transmission , visible spectrum , optoelectronics , surface plasmon , surface plasmon polariton , plasmon , physics , acoustics
We demonstrate that optical transmission of a normally incident, monochromatic plane wave through a single sub-wavelength aperture in an opaque metal film can be substantially enhanced by a thin, semitransparent metal film placed parallel to the opaque metal film in front of the aperture. When the semi-transparent and the opaque metal film are separated by a proper distance, a light trapping cavity is formed and the sub-wavelength aperture exhibits a transmission maximum. An enhancement factor of approximately 40 is demonstrated for a cylindrical 100 nm diameter hole in a silver film.