Similar to nanoparticles, nanoscale holes form a basic building block in a wide array of nanophotonic devices. Here we study the spectral and angular cathodoluminescence response of individual nanoholes with diameters ranging from 50 to 180 nm. Taking advantage of the deep-subwavelength excitation resolution, we find that the holes can be excited efficiently at the edge of the hole and that the response becomes stronger in the near-infrared part of the spectrum for larger holes. Using finite-difference time-domain simulations, we characterize the resonant modes inside the holes. We measure the angle-resolved cathodoluminescence response and observe strong beaming toward the side of electron beam excitation, complementary to what was shown for nanoparticles. The angular response can be explained by assuming a coherent superposition of radiating dipole moments, where the contribution of in-plane magnetic and electric dipole components increases for larger diameters.

ACS
N. Rotenberg
doi.org/10.1021/nn502469r
ACS Nano
Photonic Materials

Coenen, T., & Polman, A. (2014). Optical properties of single plasmonic holes probed with local electron beam excitation. ACS Nano, 8, 7350–7358. doi:10.1021/nn502469r