Nearly-zero transmission through periodically modulated ultrathin metal films

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates nearly-zero light transmission through a periodically modulated ultrathin metal film, highlighting the role of surface plasmon polaritons and polarization dependence in controlling optical transmission.

Contribution

It introduces a method to achieve near-zero transmission in ultrathin metal films using periodic modulation and analyzes the polarization effects involved.

Findings

Nearly-zero transmission achieved through periodic modulation.

Surface plasmon polaritons are responsible for transmission suppression.

Transmission strongly depends on incident wave polarization.

Abstract

Transmission of light through an optically ultrathin metal film with a thickness comparable to its skin depth is significant. We demonstrate experimentally nearly-zero transmission of light through a film periodically modulated by a one-dimensional array of subwavelength slits. The suppressed optical transmission is due to the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons and the zero-transmission phenomenon is strongly dependent on the polarization of the incident wave.