Collective behavior of impedance matched plasmonic nanocavities

Nanometer sized cavities arranged as a subwavelength metallic grating can provide omni-directional and complete absorption of light. We present an explanation of this extraordinary phenomenon as a collective resonant response of a system based on a surface impedance model. This model gives a straightforward way to design systems for optimum light trapping performance and as well gives fundamental insights into the interaction of light with metals at the nanoscale.