| The thesis covers novel optical applications of surface plasmon in a microcavity, a superlens, and a nanoaperture, using plasmonic metallic structures. First, we introduce a planar microcavity structure that can exhibit a resonance at a given frequency, independent of the incidence angle of light. Such a resonant microcavity can be useful for all-angle performance enhancement in light emitting diodes and photodetectors. Second, we explore the surperlensing capability of plasmonic structures based on negative refractive index or an alternative mechanism. The proposed metallic structure is found to focus both far-fields and near-fields of an object, demonstrating a true sub-diffraction resolution in the visible wavelength. Finally, we present the study on the optical transmission of subwavelength apertures in an optically thick metallic film. Our study shows that the existence of surface plasmon propagating along the cylindrical sidewall of an aperture has a profound impact on the transport of incident light through the aperture. We demonstrate very high optical transmission through such a subwavelength aperture based on the cylindrical surface plasmon modes. |
