Resonant transmittance through metal films with fabricated and light-induced modulation

It is shown that the optical transmittance through a periodically modulated metal film is strongly enhanced when an incident wave is in resonance with surface plasmon-polaritons in the film. Analytical equations describing the resonance transmittance, reflectance, and absorptance are derived. The explicit dependence of the transmittance, reflectance, and absorptance on the dielectric permittivity of the film, its thickness, and modulation is obtained and analyzed. The developed approach includes nonlinear effects and describes the case when the film properties depend on the intensity of incident light. A means of inducing and controlling the extraordinary optical transmittance with light itself is proposed and discussed. It is predicted that an optical bistability can occur in a modulated metal film.