Enhanced optical transmission apparatus utilizing metal films having apertures and periodic surface topography

An apparatus for enhanced light transmission comprising:

• a metal film having a first surface and a second surface;
• a single aperture provided in the metal film and extending from the first surface to the second surface;
• and
• a periodic surface topography provided on at least one of the first and second surface of the metal film, whereby light incident on one of the surfaces of the metal film interacts with a surface plasmon mode on at least one of the surfaces of the metal film thereby enhancing transmission of light through the aperture in the metal film.

An optical filter comprising:

• a metal film having a first surface and a second surface;
• at least one aperture provided in the metal film and extending from the first surface to the second surface;
• a periodic surface topography provided on at least one of the first and second surface of the metal film, whereby light incident on one of the surfaces of the metal film interacts with a surface plasmon mode on at least one of the surfaces of the metal film thereby enhancing transmission of light through the at least one aperture in the metal film;
• and
• means for adjusting the orientation of the metal film with respect to light incident thereon, such that only light of a specific range of wavelengths is transmitted through the apertures in the metal film.

A spatial optical filter comprising:

• a metal film having a first surface and a second surface;
• a plurality of periodically arranged apertures provided in the metal film and extending from the first surface to the second surface;
• and
• a periodic surface topography provided on at least one of the first and second surface of the metal film, the periodic surface topography being in phase with the periodically arranged apertures at first positions on the metal film where enhanced transmission is desired and out of phase with the periodically arranged apertures at second positions on the metal film where enhanced transmission is not desired, whereby light incident on one of the surfaces of the metal film interacts with a surface plasmon mode on at least one of the surfaces of the metal film thereby enhancing transmission of light through apertures at the first positions in the metal film and not enhancing transmission of light through apertures at the second positions in the metal.

A light collector comprising:

• a metal film having a first surface and a second surface;
• at least one aperture provided in the metal film and extending from the first surface to the second surface;
• a periodic surface topography provided on at least one of the first and second surface of the metal film, whereby light incident on one of the surfaces of the metal film interacts with a surface plasmon mode on at least one of the surfaces of the metal film thereby enhancing transmission of light through the at least one aperture in the metal film;
• and
• an optic fiber disposed in communication with each aperture such that light traveling through each aperture enters a corresponding optic fiber.

A near-field scanning optical microscope probe for use in a collection mode in a near-field scanning optical microscope including a light source and a photodetector, the near-field scanning optical microscope probe comprising:

• a light conveying device having a frontal surface disposed in proximity to the light source for receiving light from the light source;
• a metal film disposed on the frontal surface, the metal film having a first surface fixed to the frontal surface of the light conveying device frontal surface, and the metal film having a second surface facing the light source;
• at least one aperture provided in the metal film and extending from the first surface to the second surface;
• and
• a periodic surface topography provided on at least one of the first and second surfaces of the metal film, whereby light from the light source incident on the second surface of the metal film interacts with a surface plasmon mode on at least one of the surfaces of the metal film thereby enhancing transmission of light through the at least one aperture in the metal film, such that the enhanced transmitted light is conveyed through the light conveying device to the photodetector.

A near-field scanning optical microscope probe for use in an emission mode in a near-field scanning optical microscope including a light source and a photodetector, the near-field scanning optical microscope probe comprising:

• a light conveying device having a frontal surface disposed in proximity to the photodetector for transmitting light to the photodetector;
• a metal film disposed on the frontal surface, the metal film having a first surface fixed to the frontal surface of the light conveying device frontal surface, and the metal film having a second surface facing the photodetector;
• at least one aperture provided in the metal film and extending from the first surface to the second surface;
• and
• a periodic surface topography provided on at least one of the first and second surfaces of the metal film, whereby light from the light source will be conveyed through the light conveying device to the frontal surface and is incident on the first surface of the metal film so as to interact with a surface plasmon mode on at least one of the surfaces of the metal film thereby enhancing transmission of the light through the at least one aperture in the metal film, such that the enhanced transmitted light is transmitted to the photodetector.

A photolithographic mask for transferring an image to a photoresist-coated substrate, the mask comprising:

• a metal film having a first surface and a second surface;
• at least one aperture provided in the metal film and extending from the first surface to the second surface, the at least one aperture being disposed in a pattern corresponding to the image to be transferred;
• and
• a periodic surface topography provided on at least one of the first and second surface of the metal film, whereby light incident on one of the surfaces of the metal film interacts with a surface plasmon mode on at least one of the surfaces of the metal film thereby enhancing transmission of light through the at least one aperture in the metal film so as to expose the photoresist-coated substrate according to the pattern in the metal film, thereby transferring the image.