Loss compensation of extraordinary optical transmission

Abstract

In the past decade, metal hole arrays have been studied intensively in the context of extraordinary optical transmission (EOT). Recently it was shown that surface plasmons on optically pumped hole arrays can show laser action. So far, however, it is not demonstrated that the optical transmission of these arrays can also be increased using gain. In this Letter, we present a dramatic increase of the EOT via loss compensation of surface plasmons, accompanied by spectral narrowing of the resonance. These experiments allow us to quantify the modal gain experienced by the surface plasmon. Interestingly, the transmission minimum of the Fano-resonance becomes smaller.