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Extraordinary optical transmission through sub-wavelength hole arrays

Author

Listed:
  • T. W. Ebbesen

    (NEC Research Institute
    ISIS, Louis Pasteur University)

  • H. J. Lezec

    (Micrion Europe GmbH)

  • H. F. Ghaemi

    (NEC Research Institute)

  • T. Thio

    (NEC Research Institute)

  • P. A. Wolff

    (NEC Research Institute
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Abstract

The desire to use and control photons in a manner analogous to the control of electrons in solids has inspired great interest in such topics as the localization of light, microcavity quantum electrodynamics and near-field optics1,2,3,4,5,6. A fundamental constraint in manipulating light is the extremely low transmittivity of apertures smaller than the wavelength of the incident photon. While exploring the optical properties of submicrometre cylindrical cavities in metallic films, we have found that arrays of such holes display highly unusual zero-order transmission spectra (where the incident and detected light are collinear) at wavelengths larger than the array period, beyond which no diffraction occurs. In particular, sharp peaks in transmission are observed at wavelengths as large as ten times the diameter of the cylinders. At these maxima the transmission efficiency can exceed unity (when normalized to the area of the holes), which is orders of magnitude greater than predicted by standard aperture theory. Our experiments provide evidence that these unusual optical properties are due to the coupling of light with plasmons — electronic excitations — on the surface of the periodically patterned metal film. Measurements of transmission as a function of the incident light angle result in a photonic band diagram. These findings may find application in novel photonic devices.

Suggested Citation

  • T. W. Ebbesen & H. J. Lezec & H. F. Ghaemi & T. Thio & P. A. Wolff, 1998. "Extraordinary optical transmission through sub-wavelength hole arrays," Nature, Nature, vol. 391(6668), pages 667-669, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:391:y:1998:i:6668:d:10.1038_35570
    DOI: 10.1038/35570
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    Cited by:

    1. Maryam Fatima & Junshan Lin, 2021. "Scattering resonances for a three-dimensional subwavelength hole," Partial Differential Equations and Applications, Springer, vol. 2(4), pages 1-25, August.
    2. Farzaneh Fadakar Masouleh & Narottam Das & Seyed Mohammad Rozati, 2016. "Nano-Structured Gratings for Improved Light Absorption Efficiency in Solar Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-14, September.
    3. Yu-Hui Chen & Ronnie R. Tamming & Kai Chen & Zhepeng Zhang & Fengjiang Liu & Yanfeng Zhang & Justin M. Hodgkiss & Richard J. Blaikie & Boyang Ding & Min Qiu, 2021. "Bandgap control in two-dimensional semiconductors via coherent doping of plasmonic hot electrons," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.
    4. Yuyin Xi & Fan Zhang & Yuanchi Ma & Vivek M. Prabhu & Yun Liu, 2022. "Finely tunable dynamical coloration using bicontinuous micrometer-domains," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.
    5. Yixian Gao & Peijun Li & Xiaokai Yuan, 2021. "Electromagnetic field enhancement in a subwavelength rectangular open cavity," Partial Differential Equations and Applications, Springer, vol. 2(4), pages 1-51, August.
    6. Bingyan Liu & Shirong Liu & Vasanthan Devaraj & Yuxiang Yin & Yueqi Zhang & Jingui Ai & Yaochen Han & Jicheng Feng, 2023. "Metal 3D nanoprinting with coupled fields," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

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