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Microscopic theory of the extraordinary optical transmission

Nature volume 452, pages 728–731 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

The phenomenon of extraordinary light transmission through metallic films perforated by nanohole arrays at optical frequencies was first observed a decade ago1 and initiated important further experimental and theoretical work. In view of potential applications of such structures—for example, subwavelength optics2,3, optoelectronics devices4,5, and chemical sensing6—it is important to understand the underlying physical processes in detail. Here we derive a microscopic theory of the transmission through subwavelength hole arrays, by considering the elementary processes associated with scattering of surface-plasmon-polariton (SPP) modes by individual one-dimensional chains of subwavelength holes. Using a SPP coupled-mode model that coherently gathers these elementary processes, we derive analytical expressions for all the transmission spectrum characteristics—such as the resonance wavelength, the peak transmission and the anti-resonance. Further comparisons of the model predictions with fully vectorial computational results allow us quantitatively to check the model accuracy and to discuss the respective impacts of SPP modes and of other electromagnetic fields on producing the extraordinary transmission of light. The model greatly expands our understanding of the phenomenon and may affect further engineering of nanoplasmonic devices.

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Figure 1: Elementary processes involved in the EOT.
Figure 2: Comparison between the SPP model predictions and fully vectorial (RCWA) computation data obtained for the EOT of a gold hole-array membrane in air.
Figure 3: Surface waves generated on a gold surface by a single hole chain, illuminated by a normally incident plane wave polarized along the x axis with a unitary magnetic field at the gold surface.

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Acknowledgements

H.L. acknowledges a fellowship of the “Fondation Franco-Chinoise pour la Science et ses Applications” (FFCSA) and the China Scholarship Council (CSC). We thank J. P. Hugonin for discussions and computational assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire Charles Fabry de l’Institut d’Optique, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Campus Polytechnique, RD 128, 91127 Palaiseau cedex, France,

    Haitao Liu & Philippe Lalanne

  2. Key Laboratory of Opto-electronic Information Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China

    Haitao Liu

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Correspondence to Philippe Lalanne.

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Liu, H., Lalanne, P. Microscopic theory of the extraordinary optical transmission. Nature 452, 728–731 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature06762

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