Optical transmission filters with coexisting guided-mode resonance and Rayleigh anomaly

We present spectral and angular transmission filters based on the guided-mode resonance (GMR) effect cooperating with the Rayleigh anomaly in a subwavelength nanograting. We theoretically and experimentally show that the onset of higher diffraction orders at the Rayleigh anomaly dramatically sharpens a GMR transmission peak in both spectral and angular domains. This unique transmission spectrum is tightly delimited in angle and wavelength as experimentally demonstrated with a precisely fabricated device.