Transmission of light through a periodic array of slits in a thick metallic film

doi:10.1364/OPEX.13.004485

Optics Express

Editor: Michael Duncan
Vol. 13, Iss. 12 — Jun. 13, 2005
pp: 4485–4491

Transmission of light through a periodic array of slits in a thick metallic film

Yong Xie, Armis Zakharian, Jerome Moloney, and Masud Mansuripur »View Author Affiliations

Optics Express, Vol. 13, Issue 12, pp. 4485-4491 (2005)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OPEX.13.004485

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Abstract

Finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) computer simulations reveal interesting features of the transmission of a linearly polarized plane-wave through a periodic array of sub-wavelength slits in a thick metal film (incident E-field perpendicular to the slits’ long axis). The results show that slit transmission has a quasi-periodic dependence on both the film thickness and the period of the slits. This indicates that resonant surface waves excited at the top and bottom facets of the metal film as well as resonant guided modes along the depth of the slits play major roles in determining the transmission efficiency of the array. When the slit periodicity is an integer-multiple of the surface-plasmon wavelength, transmission drops to zero regardless of film thickness; in other words, excitation of surface plasmons reduces the transmission efficiency. When the slit periodicity deviates from the aforementioned value, maximum transmission through the slits is achieved by adjusting the film thickness. In the thickness dimension, transmission maxima occur periodically, with a period of half the effective wavelength of the guided mode in each slit waveguide. Optimum transmission is thus achieved by simultaneously adjusting the film thickness and the period of the slits. Computed field profiles clarify the role played by the induced surface charges and currents in enhancing the light’s coupling efficiency into and out of the slits.

OCIS Codes
(050.1220) Diffraction and gratings : Apertures
(050.2770) Diffraction and gratings : Gratings
(230.7400) Optical devices : Waveguides, slab
(240.6680) Optics at surfaces : Surface plasmons
(240.6690) Optics at surfaces : Surface waves
(260.3910) Physical optics : Metal optics

ToC Category:
Research Papers

History
Original Manuscript: March 21, 2005
Revised Manuscript: May 22, 2005
Published: June 13, 2005

Citation
Yong Xie, Armis Zakharian, Jerome Moloney, and Masud Mansuripur, "Transmission of light through a periodic array of slits in a thick metallic film," Opt. Express 13, 4485-4491 (2005)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-13-12-4485

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References

W. L. Barnes, W. A. Murray, J. Dintinger, E. Devaux, and T. W. Ebbesen, �??Surface plasmon polaritons and their role in the enhanced transmission of light through periodic arrays of subwavelength holes in a metal film,�?? Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 107401(4) (2004). [CrossRef]
F. Yang and J. R. Sambles, �??Resonant transmission of microwave through a narrow metallic slit,�?? Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 63901(3) (2002). [CrossRef]
J. R. Sambles, �??Photonics: more than transparent,�?? Nature 391, 641 (1998). [CrossRef]
J. Bravo-Abad, L. Martin-Moreno, and F. J. Garcia-Vidal, �??Transmission properties of a single metallic slit: from the subwavelength regime to the geometrical-optics limit,�?? Phys. Rev. E 69, 26601(69), (2004). [CrossRef]
Y. Takakura, �??Optical resonance in a narrow slit in a thick metallic screen�??, Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 05601, (2001). [CrossRef]
F. J. Garcia-Vidal, H. J. Lezec, T. W. Ebbesen, and L. Martin-Moreno, �??Multiple paths to enhance optical transmission through a single subwavelength slit,�?? Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 213901(4) (2003). [CrossRef]
J. A. Porto, F. J. Garcia-Vidal, J. B. Pendry, �??Transmission resonances on metallic gratings with very narrow slits,�?? Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 02845 (1999). [CrossRef]
Q. Cao and Ph. Lalanne, �??Negative role of surface plasmons in the transmission of metallic gratings with very narrow slits,�?? Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 057403 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Ph. Lalanne, J. P. Hugonin, S. Astilean, M. Palamaru, and K. D. Moller, �??One-mode model and airy-like formulae for one-dimensional metallic gratings,�?? J. Opt. A 2, 48-51 (2000). [CrossRef]
J. J. Kuta, H. M. van Driel, D. Landheer, and Y. Feng, �??Coupled-wave analysis of lamellar metal transmission gratings for the visible and the infrared,�?? J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 12, 1118-27 (1995). [CrossRef]
M. G. Moharam and T. K. Gaylord, �??Rigorous coupled-wave analysis of metallic surface-relief gratings,�?? J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 3, 1780-87 (1986). [CrossRef]
M. G. Moharam, E. B. Grann, D. A. Pommet, and T. K. Gaylord, �??Formulation for stable and efficient implementation of the rigorous coupled-wave analysis of binary gratings,�?? J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 12, 1068-76 (1995). [CrossRef]
M. M. J. Treacy, �??Dynamical diffraction explanation of the anomalous transmission of light through metallic gratings,�?? Phys. Rev. B 66, 195105/1-11 (2002). [CrossRef]
A. Taflove and S. C. Hagness, Computational electrodynamics: the finite-difference time-domain method, 2nd edition, Artech House, Boston, 2000.
E. D. Palik, Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids (Academic, Orlando, 1985).
Y. Xie, A. R. Zakharian, J. V. Moloney, and M. Mansuripur, "Transmission of light through slit apertures in metallic films," Opt. Express 12, 6106-6121 (2004), <a href="http://www.opticsexpress.org/abstract.cfm?URI=OPEX -12-25-6106.">http://www.opticsexpress.org/abstract.cfm?URI=OPEX -12-25-6106.</a> [CrossRef] [PubMed]
H. Raether, Surface Plasmons on smooth and rough surfaces and on gratings (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1986).

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[1] W. L. Barnes, W. A. Murray, J. Dintinger, E. Devaux, and T. W. Ebbesen, �??Surface plasmon polaritons and their role in the enhanced transmission of light through periodic arrays of subwavelength holes in a metal film,�?? Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 107401(4) (2004). [CrossRef]

[2] F. Yang and J. R. Sambles, �??Resonant transmission of microwave through a narrow metallic slit,�?? Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 63901(3) (2002). [CrossRef]

[3] J. R. Sambles, �??Photonics: more than transparent,�?? Nature 391, 641 (1998). [CrossRef]

[4] J. Bravo-Abad, L. Martin-Moreno, and F. J. Garcia-Vidal, �??Transmission properties of a single metallic slit: from the subwavelength regime to the geometrical-optics limit,�?? Phys. Rev. E 69, 26601(69), (2004). [CrossRef]

[5] Y. Takakura, �??Optical resonance in a narrow slit in a thick metallic screen�??, Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 05601, (2001). [CrossRef]

[6] F. J. Garcia-Vidal, H. J. Lezec, T. W. Ebbesen, and L. Martin-Moreno, �??Multiple paths to enhance optical transmission through a single subwavelength slit,�?? Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 213901(4) (2003). [CrossRef]

[7] J. A. Porto, F. J. Garcia-Vidal, J. B. Pendry, �??Transmission resonances on metallic gratings with very narrow slits,�?? Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 02845 (1999). [CrossRef]

[8] Q. Cao and Ph. Lalanne, �??Negative role of surface plasmons in the transmission of metallic gratings with very narrow slits,�?? Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 057403 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

[9] Ph. Lalanne, J. P. Hugonin, S. Astilean, M. Palamaru, and K. D. Moller, �??One-mode model and airy-like formulae for one-dimensional metallic gratings,�?? J. Opt. A 2, 48-51 (2000). [CrossRef]

[10] J. J. Kuta, H. M. van Driel, D. Landheer, and Y. Feng, �??Coupled-wave analysis of lamellar metal transmission gratings for the visible and the infrared,�?? J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 12, 1118-27 (1995). [CrossRef]

[11] M. G. Moharam and T. K. Gaylord, �??Rigorous coupled-wave analysis of metallic surface-relief gratings,�?? J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 3, 1780-87 (1986). [CrossRef]

[12] M. G. Moharam, E. B. Grann, D. A. Pommet, and T. K. Gaylord, �??Formulation for stable and efficient implementation of the rigorous coupled-wave analysis of binary gratings,�?? J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 12, 1068-76 (1995). [CrossRef]

[13] M. M. J. Treacy, �??Dynamical diffraction explanation of the anomalous transmission of light through metallic gratings,�?? Phys. Rev. B 66, 195105/1-11 (2002). [CrossRef]

[14] A. Taflove and S. C. Hagness, Computational electrodynamics: the finite-difference time-domain method, 2nd edition, Artech House, Boston, 2000.

[15] E. D. Palik, Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids (Academic, Orlando, 1985).

[16] Y. Xie, A. R. Zakharian, J. V. Moloney, and M. Mansuripur, "Transmission of light through slit apertures in metallic films," Opt. Express 12, 6106-6121 (2004), <a href="http://www.opticsexpress.org/abstract.cfm?URI=OPEX -12-25-6106.">http://www.opticsexpress.org/abstract.cfm?URI=OPEX -12-25-6106.</a> [CrossRef] [PubMed]

[17] H. Raether, Surface Plasmons on smooth and rough surfaces and on gratings (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1986).

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Transmission of light through a periodic array of slits in a thick metallic film