Plasmonic metamaterials based on holey metallic films

In this paper we address from the fundamental point of view the links and relations between three different phenomena that emerge when metallic films are perforated with periodic arrays of holes: (i) the phenomenon of extraordinary optical transmission in single metallic layers, (ii) the appearance of surface electromagnetic modes (the so-called spoof surface plasmons) when an array of holes is drilled on the surface of a perfect electrical conductor and (iii) the negative refractive index behavior observed in double-fishnet (DF) structures in which a periodic hole array is perforated on a metal–dielectric–metal stack. By using a very simple theoretical framework, we show how the physical origin of the negative refractive index in these DF structures is due to the excitation of spoof gap surface plasmon modes that propagate within the dielectric slab. We also demonstrate that the electrical response of the DF system is mainly controlled by the cut-off frequency of the hole waveguide. Finally, we present some results for multilayered DF structures that illustrate how the negative refractive index is maintained when several DF units are stacked together.