| Surface plasmon effects in nano-optical systems are investigated through rigorous numerical simulations and analytical modeling. Several strategies to achieve superresolution in plasmon-assisted optical readout systems are proposed, and simulations reveal that resolution up to lambda/5.6 (lambda ≡ wavelength of light) is achievable. These promising results can increase dramatically the storage capacity permitted with current optical data storage technologies. It is also shown that surface plasmons can be employed to modulate the spatial coherence of light that emanates from subwavelength apertures. Starting from a simple Young's double-slit geometry, feasibility of a practical plasmon-assisted coherence converting device is demonstrated as progress is made to investigate multiple aperture arrays. Finally, the surface plasmon effects are exploited in multi-layered metallic structures to both impede the field decay in a single metal slab and provide for extraordinary optical transmission. The results presented here suggest a number of ways in which surface plasmons can play important roles for the development of the nano-optical technologies. |
