Role of surface plasmons in the optical interaction in metallic gratings with narrow slits

We report an experimental study of the transmission of light through narrow slits in metallic gratings (Ag layer thickness of 100–400 nm, grating period of 370 or 780 nm, and slit width of 30–100 nm). Peak transmission of ∼60% is observed for TM polarization at a wavelength redshifted from the point of surface plasmon (SP) resonance at the metal/substrate interface. At the transmission minima, the angular dependence of reflection shows a sharp peak with minimum loss of optical power. Two types of surface plasmon excitation are found responsible for the observed transmission dips: (1) the SP resonance along the planes that comprise either the metal/air or metal/substrate interfaces and (2) the SP resonance localized along the surface that encloses each metal island separated by slits.