A subwavelength slit as a quarter-wave retarder

We have experimentally studied the polarization-dependent transmission properties of a nanoslit in a gold film as a function of its width. The slit exhibits strong birefringence and dichroism. We find, surprisingly, that the transmission of the polarization parallel to the slit only disappears when the slit is much narrower than half a...

Pulsed helium ion beam induced deposition: A means to high growth rates

The sub-nanometer beam of a helium ion microscope was used to study and optimize helium-ion beam induced deposition of PtC nanopillars with the (CH3)3Pt(CPCH3) precursor. The beam current, beam dwell time, precursor refresh time, and beam focus have been independently varied. Continuous beam exposure resulted in narrow but short pillars, while...

Model for nanopillar growth by focused helium ion-beam-induced deposition

An analytical model for the growth of nanopillars by helium ion-beam-induced deposition is presented and compared to experimental data. This model describes the competition between pillar growth in vertical and lateral directions. It assumes that vertical growth is induced by incident primary ions and type-1 secondary electrons, whereas lateral...

Proximity effect in ion-beam-induced deposition of nanopillars

Ion-beam-induced deposition (IBID) is a powerful technique for prototyping three-dimensional nanostructures. To study its capability for this purpose, the authors investigate the proximity effect in IBID of nanopillars. In particular, the changes in shape and dimension of pillars are studied when a second pillar is grown near an existing pillar....

Measuring the near-field of extra-ordinary transmission through a periodic hole-array

The knowledge of the near-field of extra-ordinary transmission through hole-arrays is mostly theoretical; there is less experimental validation of the theory. We study the near-field properties by measuring fluorescent molecules that are immersed in a solution and their Brownian motion. The measurements are performed by filling the space above...

A novel concept for a mid-field microscope

When light passes through a hole smaller than the wavelength of the light, the transmission is very low and the light is diffracted. This however changes if holes are arranged in a periodic array on metal. In that case the light couples to surface plasmons; this results in enhanced transmission, spectral selection and a small angular diffraction...