Optical Control over Surface-Plasmon-Polariton-Assisted THz Transmission through a Slit Aperture

E. Hendry, F. J. Garcia-Vidal, L. Martin-Moreno, J. Gómez Rivas, M. Bonn, A. P. Hibbins, and M. J. Lockyear
Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 123901 – Published 24 March 2008

Abstract

We demonstrate optical control over the transmission of terahertz (THz) radiation through a single subwavelength slit in an otherwise opaque silicon wafer. The addition of periodic corrugation on each side of the wafer allows coupling to surface plasmon polaritons, so that light not impinging directly on the slit can contribute to the transmission. A significant enhancement of the THz transmission can be achieved through control of the surface wave propagation length by excitation at optical wavelengths. The observed transmission increase is in distinct contrast to the  reduction reported for photoexcitation of arrays of holes in semiconductors.

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  • Received 29 August 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.123901

©2008 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

E. Hendry1,*, F. J. Garcia-Vidal2, L. Martin-Moreno3, J. Gómez Rivas4, M. Bonn4, A. P. Hibbins1, and M. J. Lockyear1

  • 1School of Physics, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QL, United Kingdom
  • 2Departamento de Física Teórica de la Materia Condensada, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
  • 3Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, ICMA-CSIC, Universidad de Zaragoza, E-50009 Zaragoza, Spain
  • 4FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics, Kruislaan 407, 1098 SJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands

  • *e.hendry@exeter.ac.uk

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Vol. 100, Iss. 12 — 28 March 2008

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