Strong and large area field enhancement outside a microcavity due to propagating surface plasmons and standing wave effect

Abstract

We investigated the optical property of periodic inverted pyramidal microcavities and observed large area field enhancement outside a cavity when the incident wavelength and structure parameters match certain relations. The mechanism of this phenomenon has been studied. Propagating surface plasmons and the standing wave effect both contribute to the field enhancement outside the cavity. The relations between the incident wavelength and structure parameters have been clarified. Based on the relations, one can control the field enhancement outside the cavity for a specific laser wavelength.