Enhanced transmission of transverse electric waves through subwavelength slits in a thin metallic film

Abstract

By adding an array of metallic cut wires, the transmission of transverse electric (TE) waves (the electric field is parallel to the slits) through subwavelength slits in a thin metallic film is significantly enhanced. An 800-fold enhanced transmission is obtained compared to the case without the cut wires. It is demonstrated that a TE incident wave is highly confined by the cut wires, due to the excitation of the electric dipolelike resonance, and then effectively squeezed into and through the subwavelength slits.