Amplification of light scattering in arrays of nanoholes by plasmonic absorption-induced transparency

Abstract

Absorption induced transparency is an optical phenomenon that occurs in metallic arrays of nanoholes when materials featuring narrow lines in their absorption spectra are deposited on top of it. First reported in the visible range, using dye lasers as cover materials, it has been described as transmission peaks unexpectedly close to the absorption energies of the dye laser. In this work, amplification of light is demonstrated in the active regime of absorption induced transparency. Amplification of stimulated emission can be achieved when the dye laser behaves as a gain material. Intense illumination can modify the dielectric constant of the gain material, which in turn, changes the propagation properties of the plasmonic modes excited in the hole arrays, providing both less damping to light and further feedback, enhancing the stimulated emission process.