A nanoscale metal-semiconductor grating is proposed for efficient and ultrafast photodetection. Theoretical and experimental results of efficient absorption in nanoscopic semiconductor wires are presented. The strong confinement of light in subwavelength metal-semiconductor, gratings is achieved by Fabry-Perot resonances involving vertical transverse magnetic surface-plasmon waves and transverse electric guided waves. Photodetectors have been fabricated with 40 X 100 nm cross sections of Ag and GaAs wires. The reflectivity and photocurrent mesurements are in good agreement with theoretical estimates. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.