Optical antennas based on coupled nanoholes in thin metal films

The ability to control optical effects at the nanoscale is a challenge that could be of great importance for a range of photonic applications. However, progress requires a deep understanding of the relationship between near-field and far-field properties of the individual elements of the nanostructure, as well as of the role of nano-optical interactions. Here, we show that the strong interaction between nanoholes in optically thin metal films can be used to readily tune their spectral response and visibility. Control of this interaction in short chains of nanoholes enables either amplification or almost total suppression of the scattered light. The phenomena are interpreted in terms of hole coupling mediated via antisymmetric surface plasmon polaritons, which makes the nanohole chains effectively behave as linear wire antennas.