The Stanford Photonics Research Center

Propagating Modes in Subwavelength Cylindrical Holes in an Optically Thick Metallic Film

The transmission of light through holes smaller than the wavelength of incident light is significantly increased in a new region of operation that has been identified and analyzed. The analysis shows that light can be transmitted through a high-density packing of nano-dimensional cylindrical holes in optically thick metallic film without diffraction. Based on this analysis, single holes and hole arrays which transport light via the newly-identified propagating modes were designed.